Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan 25: A man on today itself tried to self-immolate outside a cinema hall in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi in protest against the release of the most awaited movie 'Padmaavat'. The man was later arrested by the Police. Rajput community protested against the film in Bihar's Muzaffarpur by brandishing swords. Dozens of protesters took to the streets and raised slogans against the cast of Padmaavat.

Amid heightened security owing to fears of widespread riots, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali magnum opus, released today. While various Hindu and Rajput fringe outfits have raised objections over the epic drama, the Supreme Court has given a green signal to the film.

The top court had set aside the notification passed by the states of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat to ban the release of the movie. Meanwhile, Karni Sena in Lucknow staged a protest at Novelty Cinema, requesting the commoners not to watch the movie. They even said that they would compensate money for the tickets already bought by the people.

Padmaavat (formerly titled Padmavati), is a 2018 Indian epic period drama film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Deepika Padukone stars as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharaja Rawal Ratan Singh, and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji. Aditi Rao Hydari, Jim Sarbh, Raza Murad, and Anupriya Goenka feature in supporting roles. Based on the epic poem Padmavat (1540) by Malik Muhammad Jayasi, the film narrates the story of Padmavati, a Rajput queen who committed Jauhar to protect herself from Khilji.