Shiv Sena MLA asks Maha Govt to stop release of 'Bajirao Mastani'

Mumbai: A Shiv Sena MLA has asked the Maharashtra government to stop the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film "Bajirao Mastani".

The film, starring Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone is scheduled to release on December 18.

Pratap Sarnaik, MLA from Thane district, in a memorandum submitted to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has urged him not to allow the release of the film till the contentious, controversial scenes in the film are not cut.

"The film be first shown to the legislators and then only the permission be granted for its release," Sarnaik said.

"Fadnavis in his remarks on the memorandum has asked the authorities to seek appropriate information and then take action accordingly," an official from Chief Minister's Office said.

The Sena legislator has alleged that lead actors in the film Ranbir Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra have extracted a heavy price for acting in the film.

He further alleged Sarnaik alleged that Bhansali has produced the film purely out of commercial considerations and has paid no attention to the Maratha history.

Sarnaik argued that the Bollywood flick is not only being released in Maharashtra, all over India, but also in foreign countries.

"Hence those who are not aware of the deeds of Bajirao Peshwa, Maratha history and Marathi culture will be mislead into harbouring perverted notion. This will cause pain to the Maharashtrian community," he said.

The MLA further said the heirs of Bajirao Peshwa (I) and some social organisations have raised objections over the contents of the film and that there contentions have received no justice as yet.

"The 'Pinga' song picturised on queen Kashibai and Mastani and the 'Vaat Lavli' song in which Bajirao Peshwa (I) dances in 'vulgar' fashion holding his pony tail is not acceptable to the heart and mind of Marathi legislators like me," Sarnaik said.

The Sena leader demanded that until and unless no proper guidance and directions are not received from the heirs of Bajirao Peshwa (I) and historians, and the scenes that are causing pain to the Maharashtrian people are not deleted, till then permission for the release of the film should not be granted.