Padmaavat: Yogi Adityanath dodges question on film's release in UP, says 'I am not a future teller'

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is non-committal on the release of the controversial film Padmaavat in the state. The Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie is set for release on 25 January. [caption id=“attachment_4221477” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Still from Padmaavat[/caption] “I am not a future teller,” was his cryptic reply when mediapersons asked him as to whether the movie would be screened in Uttar Pradesh. During an earlier visit here in November last year, Adityanath had said that Bhansali was no less guilty than those issuing threats to actors and others involved with the film and asserted that if there is any action, “it will be against both the sides”. Lashing out at the film-maker, he had said that Bhansali was “habitual of playing with public sentiments”. The state government has said it would not allow the movie’s release till certain “controversial portions” are removed. The movie, which was earlier titled Padmavati, will now be released worldwide on 25 January with the title change suggested by the Censor Board as Padmaavat. The chief minister had said, “No one has the right to take the law into own hands whether it is Sanjay Leela Bhansali or anyone else. I feel that if those threatening (the actors of the film) are guilty, Bhansali is no less guilty.” He had also said that if there is any action, “It will be against both the sides.” On threats being issued to eliminate actors, Adityanath had said, “Everyone should respect the feelings of each other. And I feel that if everyone has good thoughts and intentions, there would be amity in society.” Gujarat has become the third state after Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan — all ruled by the BJP — to block the controversial Bollywood movie. Starring Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmini, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji, the film was mired in controversy after Rajput Karni Sena raised objections over the content of the film.