While Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor – the three main actors of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati – have chosen to follow the director’s diktat on the controversy surrounding the period drama, Aditi Rao Hydari has boldly spoken out. Bhansali had strictly forbidden anybody from the film to comment publicly on the controversy Padmavati finds itself embroiled in. But Aditi disregarded Bhansali’s instruction and is paying for it.

The actress from Hyderabad, who was last seen as Sanjay Dutt’s daughter in the actor’s comeback film Bhoomi, plays Ranveer’s wife in Padmavati. Her character is Mahur, the second wife of Allaudin Khilji. At a recent film screening, when asked about the fate of Padmavati, Aditi reacted sharply. Commenting on the threat to the film and its director and cast from the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, Aditi said, “There is no fear and one shouldn’t be scared either because I think this is a democratic country and everybody should be allowed to make films they want to make. We should be proud of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He is a great filmmaker (but) instead of being proud of him, we are forcing him to defend himself and his film. I think that is very sad.”

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If that wasn’t enough, Aditi added, “The film will definitely release. I have complete faith in the system and the people of this country. People are spreading rumours about the film saying it has this or that but there is nothing like that in Padmavati.” Instead of being proud of his actress’ defiance in the face of the Karni Sena’s threat, Bhansali reportedly flew into a rage. The director is said to have blasted the actress for disobeying his order. He had specifically asked his entire Padmavati team not to make any statements about the controversy that might further harm the film’s interests. But Aditi, who is working with Bhansali for the first time, failed to take the director seriously.

A furious Bhansali is said to have left Aditi with a stern warning that has scared the actress because Aditi is not talking about Padmavati now. Ranveer, Deepika, and Shahid are diplomatically maintaining silence. Meanwhile, Bhansali is still trying to figure out a release date for the film. As per trade sources if all goes well he might release Padmavati in January 2018.