After threats against multiple Hindi films, now Karni Sena is targeting Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film Prithviraj. The group is demanding a title change for the film. In 2016, during the making of Padmaavat, members of the outfit demolished the sets of the movie. Costumes were also destroyed and Sanjay Leela Bhansali was physically assaulted. Karni Sena claimed that the film has a romantic sequence between Deepika Padukone’s Rani Padmini and Ranveer Singh’s Alauddin Khilji. The film ultimately got a title change from Padmavati to Padmaavat.
“Prithviraj” is based on the epic poem Prithviraj Raso by Chand Bardai, as per revelation from the director Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi. Surjeet Singh Rathore, president of the Youth Wing of the Karni Sena, sharing news clipping on his Instagram page wrote that the organization respects Akshay Kumar. Rathore added that producer Aditya Chopra should respect the last ‘Hindu Samrat’ and use his name with due respect. He warned that otherwise, consequences would be the same as they were during Padmaavat’s release. And that Yash Raj Films would be responsible for all the losses. He put out his three conditions, which included, ‘screening of the film before its release, ‘the film be shown to the Rajput society, and the ‘title of the film to have the full name — Veer Yoddha Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan’.
In another post, Surjeet Singh Rathore added that the country and world should be shown Emperor Prithviraj Chauhan’s life through this film. Pressing the demand of using ‘Chauhan’ again in the title, he wrote that they honor Akshay Kumar and he would be proud that he has played the role of Prithviraj Chauhan.
Akshay Kumar had announced the project back in 2019, on his birthday. Akshay shared a short teaser of the film in his tweet. He wrote, “Elated to share about my 1st historical film on my birthday! Humbled to have the opportunity to play a hero I look up to for his valor & values- Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan in one of my biggest films #Prithviraj. Producer @yrf, director #DrChandraprakashDwivedi, releasing Diwali 2020.”
The film got delayed due to the pandemic and the release is now scheduled this year on November 5. ‘Prithviraj’ has Akshay Kumar playing the title role with Manushi Chillar as Samyukta, Prithviraj Chauhan’s wife. The film is being produced by Aditya Chopra.
