Yes, who’s afraid of Padmavati – or Padmavat, as Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama that’s been bedeviled by controversies and protests is likely to be re-titled? Apparently no production house that has a release coming up soon is afraid to go eyeball-to-eyeball with the historical film at the box office anymore.

The buzz is that Padmavati (or whatever) will release on February 9, because Bhansali is not keen on coming out on January 26. Only his PR team and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, the producers of Padmavati, appear keen on doing that. Though, it is believed that Bhansali wrote to Central Board of Film Certification chairman Prasoon Joshi requesting his film be cleared quickly and that he has two release dates in mind – January 26 and February 9.
The CBFC had recommended five modifications to Bhansali’s film before it would be cleared with a U/A certificate. One of these was a change in the title. The modifications must have been done but there is no official indication yet about the film’s new title. Once the Censor Board gives its nod, Bhansali will announce his release date. Bollywood is waiting to hear what this will be.

Trade pundits doing the math suggest it will be a bad decision for Padmavati to come out on January 26. Akshay Kumar’s powerful social drama Padman is already booked for release on that day. The actor is known to favour the Republic Day week for his films and has had some super hits like Airlift and Baby on this day. He and Padman producer KriArj Entertainment will certainly not postpone their film’s release for Padmavati.

Recommended Read:Is Padmavati taking the risk of releasing with Padman on Jan. 26?

And, despite all rumours, it does not seem like Neeraj Pandey’s Republic Day release Aiyaary will also shift dates because the director has said it’s an Army-based thriller and he specially wanted it released on Republic Day. Though one of Aiyaary’s producers, Jayantilal Gada, said he would prefer to wait for Padmavati’s release date to be announced before a decision is taken on Aiyaary.

Would Bhansali like a triangular fight on Republic Day against Padman and Aiyaary? It’s unlikely. Sources say there is zero anticipation for the film now among audiences and Bhansali will have to start building up people’s interest in Padmavati all over again. Perhaps he is waiting for the film’s actors, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, to return from their Sri Lanka holiday and begin promotions on a serious note.

That puts the spotlight on February 9 as Padmavati’s release date. It’s far enough not to be affected by the spillover of Padman’s anticipated box office success. And the film comes up against Anushka Sharma’s Pari and Luv Ranjan’s Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety on February 9, which Bhansali does not appear to be worried about. But all this is subject to the Rajput caste organisation Karni Sena backing down from its proposed plan to ban Padmavati nationwide.

When last heard from, its leaders were saying that the CBFC’s approval for the film meant nothing and the organisation would not withdraw its threat. In fact, the right wing group asked CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi to step down for clearing Padmavati!