BOLLYWOOD: Actor Shahid Kapoor denounced the vandalisation of the sets of his upcoming film Padmavati and said it is sad that such an incident happened for the second time
Padmavati star Shahid Kapoor has described the attack of the film’s set in Kolhapur and revealed that none of the principal cast – his co-stars are Deepika Padukone
and Ranveer Singh – were at the location.
The set of the film was torched and vandalised early Wednesday morning, destroying props and costumes. “I am aware there has been some disruption that happened, I am aware that a certain amount of costumes got burnt, I am aware everybody is safe and nobody got harmed.
The shooting has wrapped up and the team is coming back,” Shahid Kapoor told reporters in Mumbai on Wednesday night, reported Indian media.
An unidentified group of 10-20 people attacked the set at Masai Pathar in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, lighting a fire and pelting parked vehicles with stones. “What I am not aware of is who has done it. It is unfortunate that something like this has happened for the second time. As soon as there is some more clarity, the production house will respond to it. But no principal actors were there,” Shahid said.
Team Padmavati thanked the Maharashtra Police for “quick and efficient support” in a tweet. Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar said that the crew has been given security and asked to file a police complaint.
Shahid Kapoor, 36, plays one of the three central characters of Padmavati – Ratan Singh, ruler of Chittor and husband of Rani Padmini who, legend has it, committed Jauhar when Emperor AlauddinKhilji invaded her kingdom. Deepika and Ranveer play Padmini and Khilji.
The making of the film has been opposed by certain factions. This is the second time the set of the film has been vandalized – in January, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was assaulted while filming in Jaipur by a Rajput group called Karni Sena. The protests against the film are based on scenes that allegedly show a romantic connection between Rani Padmini and Alauddin Khilji – Mr Bhansali denies that these scenes even exist.
Shahid Kapoor was last seen in February’s well-reviewed but under performing Rangoon.