After all the protests and obstructions, the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali ’s Padmavati has been halted. Yesterday, BollywoodMDB updated our readers about how ugly turn the protests have taken with a dead body hanging at Nahargarh fort. Amidst the chaos, the film industry has decided to support the film and Sanjay Leela Bhansali ’s creative vision. As per the report, The Indian Films and TV Directors' Association, along with 20 other bodies of the film and television industry have planned a 15-minute blackout time!

Confirming the plan, Ashoke Pandit of IFTDA told IANS: “We will keep showing our support for Padmavati and SLB (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) because it is the basic right of a creative person to tell a story in his own way.”

“Sanjay is a responsible filmmaker, and making a film on history is not something easy for him but a big responsibility. To express our solidarity (with the film), we are gathering on Sunday for a 15-minute blackout where all shooting units in Mumbai will put off lights and no shootings will take place,” he added.

Talking about their protest, Pandit said: “We strongly protest against the non-institutional bodies who every now and then protest against movies and threaten actors and makers of films. We will keep condemning their actions in a democratic manner. We have faith in our Prime Minister…for justice to Padmavati.”

“We as film industry feel hurt every time such groups target our films and try to control our freedom of expression. Unfortunately, we do not get support from any other industry, not even from the government as if we are orphans as a community,” Pandit added.

“We are living in a democracy and I have faith in the government and its judiciary. These protesters have not watched the film, and Sanjay has already made it very clear by releasing a video that it is a tribute to Padmavati and no obscene scenes are there,” he added.

The film Padmavati narrates the story of courage and bravery of Rani Padmini of Chittorgarh. Deepika Padukone essays the title role while Shahid Kapoor plays Raja Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh plays Alauddin Khilji.