BJP leader wants Sanjay Leela Bhansali to be tried for treason

New Delhi: 'Padmavati' director Sanjay Leela Bhansali should be tried for treason for distorting history, BJP member Arjun Gupta has urged in a letter addressed to Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Gupta, who is the General Secretary of the Uttar Bharatiya Morcha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said something "disgusting" is being done in the pursuit of earning money and for boosting one's career.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Referring to Bhansali, Gupta said that he has tried to malign Rani Padmavati's sacrifice through "Padmavati".

"The whole country, not just the Rajput community, is standing against it. He needs to be severely punished by being tried for treason for his attempt to distort history so that in future any filmmaker is wary of these kinds of projects."

Gupta has also appealed that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to "not certify this film".

"I am fully confident that my letter will be taken into consideration, and a sedition case is run (registered) against Bhansali," Gupta added.

"Padmavati" is slated to release on December 1, and there is a brouhaha over it as various organisations have been targeting the filmmaker for distortion of history in the movie, touted as a "historical drama".

Bhansali has repeatedly clarified that the film has no such scene between Rani Padmavati and invader Alauddin Khilji which can hurt sentiments.