AKSHAY POSTPONES PADMAN RELEASE AT THE REQUEST OF PADMAAVAT DIRECTOR BHANSALI

PadMan has been postponed to February 9, the film’s star announced today in a joint press conference with Padmaavat director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. PadMan, co-starring Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte, was the film originally booked for the Republic Day weekend – Padmavaat, cleared for release by the Censor Board earlier this month, also announced two weeks ago that it would open on January 25. Speaking to the press, Akshay Kumar revealed that PadMan was being moved at the request of Mr Bhansali, whose film has weathered months of violent protests.

“He has gone through a lot. It is essential for them to release the film at this time, their stakes are higher than mine,” Akshay said about the Padmaavat director, calling him “a dear friend.”

“I will be grateful to him for a lifetime. This is how we stand with each other,” Sanjay Leela Bhansali said.

Padmaavat, previously titled Padmavati, was originally scheduled to release last month but was postponed after its application for certification was rejected by the Prasoon Joshi-led Censor Board. The film has been opposed by fringe Rajput groups who are concerned that Padmaavat, based on the legend of Rani Padmini, incorrectly depicts a romance between the queen, played by Deepika Padukone, and Alauddin Khilji, played by Ranveer Singh. The Censor passed the film this month with five edits that included dropping the ‘i’ from the title. Protests continued, with states such as Rajasthan announcing they would not screen the film despite Censor clearance. The Supreme Court yesterday ruled against the ban in the states.

Weeks ago, when it appeared that there was a good chance Padmaavat would end up releasing at or around the same time as PadMan, Akshay told news agency PTI,”Every film has the right to release whenever they (makers) want, and I am happy for them.”