Riot police may be deployed at Indian cinemas over the release of a film about a mythological Indian queen that has sparked protests, attacks on the set and director, and threats to mutilate the lead actor.
The Indian government is being asked to intervene to delay the release of Padmaavat, a film based on an epic 16th-century poem, starring Deepika Padukone as the titular character.
Uttar Pradesh officials said on Thursday that due to elections and a Muslim holiday they would not be able to provide enough police to secure cinemas for the film’s scheduled release on 1 December.
Rumours about how Rani Padmavati will be depicted have angered fringe Hindu groups, Indian royals and members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata party.
Rightwing Hindu organisations believe the film will depict a romantic relationship between Padmavati and an invading king, Alauddin Khilji, who is Muslim.
Though Khilji existed, experts say there is little historical evidence for Padmavati, who may have been created by the Sufi Muslim author of the poem, Malik Muhammad Jayasi.
But the queen has become an important mythological figure especially revered by members of the Hindu Rajput caste, to which the character in the poem belonged.
The director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, has clarified there will be “no romantic scene or song or dream sequence between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji”.
But members of one Hindu group stormed the film set in January and assaulted Bhansali and others. Bhansali agreed to delete offending scenes from the film following the attack.
A spokesman for the same group said on Thursday they would “cut the nose” of Padukone after the actor said protests would not stop the film’s release.
Rajput groups and royals belonging to the traditional warrior caste have also complained about Padukone dancing and baring her midriff in the film’s trailer.
Rana Safvi, a historian, blamed the controversy on growing religious polarisation in India. “Our tolerance levels have gone for a toss,” she said.
Rumours were also spreading on social media more quickly than they could be debunked. “No one reads much any more and we believe all kinds of unverified stuff on WhatsApp,” she said.
