Hindu group seeks ban on 'Bajirao Mastani' for 'distorting' history

A Hindu group has demanded ban on upcoming Hindi movie "Bajirao Mastani", saying it "distorted" history.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) on Sunday said it has lodged a complaint with the Central Board of Film Certification and the central government's culture department, seeking a ban on the film's release if the "distortion" is not removed.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Bajirao Mastani", scheduled to be released on December 18, stars Ranveer Singh as Maratha leader Peshwa Bajirao I, Deepika Padukone as his warrior queen Mastani and Priyanka Chopra as his first wife Kashibai.

HJS said in the song "Pinga Pinga", Kashibai and Mastani dance together but during the times of Peshwas, women from respected families did not dance by displaying such body language. "They displayed valour by carrying swords and defeating enemies. However, Bhansali does not seem to have studied these royal traditions and relied solely on the traditions of Bollywood," HJS Telangana coordinator Chandra Moger said in statement.

He hoped that Bhansali's "distortion" was nothing "but getting rich by damaging the ideal family system during the rule of Peshwas".