Deepika has only just completed shooting her final portions for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus, Padmavati. We saw an Instagram post to the effect, complete with cake and congratulations. Yet, last evening, she managed to juggle her shooting schedule and make it for the launch of the 3D trailer of her film, based on the life of the legendary Rajput queen, Padmini.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba9IivDAwZD/?hl=en&taken-by=peepingmoon

While she held court at the event, resplendent as always, there was no trace of either Ranveer Singh nor Shahid Kapoor, who play stellar roles in the film, as Alauddin Khilji and Maharawal Ratan Singh. Ajit Andhare, COO at Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, which is distributing the film, took to Twitter to share, “Great response at 3D trailer event with @deepikapadukone. Dearly missed @RanveerOfficial @shahidkapoor & SLB in shoot finishing frenzy. Hugs.”

‘Shoot finishing frenzy’ is a valid reason to stay away from one’s film promotional event; work must come first. However, Ranveer was evidently not hard at work at all yesterday but was actually snapped playing a casual game of football! Clad in sportswear, his long tresses tied away from his face, he was spotted chilling out and practicing his moves on the turf.

So, why this apparent fabrication about Ranveer being busy shooting, when he was clearly free and available to attend the film’s trailer launch? The inside story goes, that as the risk of disruption of the film by protestors grows stronger, the film’s publicity team has taken a call to avoid giving the film’s dissenters any more reason to flare up and create more serious problems. It was felt that it would be in Padmavati’s best interests to avoid the lead characters, Rani Padmavati and Sultan Alauddin Khilji coming together on any common dais. Hence, the film’s promotions will feature the stars solo, and might even skip Ranveer Singh completely!

Padmavati has faced the brunt of various organisations which have accused the film of supposedly presenting the Rajput queen in a bad light, and allegedly misrepresenting facts. From destroying the sets on two occasions, to burning posters of the film, physically manhandling director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and even destroying a rangoli depicting the poster of the film created this Diwali, the attacks have been constant.

Even as Information and Broadcasting Minister, Smriti Irani has assured the film a smooth release, clearly the makers believed it was better to be safe than sorry… and decided to keep Ranveer out of the picture last night. Tough times call for tough measures.