Taking cogniscance of public sentiments and the ongoing agitations against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Deepika Padukone starrer “Padmaavat” theaters in Udaipur have decided NOT TO screen the movie.

Ashoka Cinema, PVR (Celebration Mall) and INX (Lake City Mall) have displayed notices outside their properties announcing that the movie will not be screened in their theaters. Fair enough too, as screening the movie could result in unnecessary mob violence causing damage to property and inconvenience and danger to those in the vicinity.

Police vehicles and personnel have anyways been deployed outside these theaters to prevent any unwanted incidence, inspite of the theaters deciding to call of the screening of “Padmaavat”. Two distributors of Rajasthan have also decided to keep their hands of the distribution of the movie.

Elsewhere in the state, theaters in Barmer, Jaipur, Jaiselmer, Jhunjhunu, Banswara and Sikar have also washed their hands off “Padmaavat”. The agitating groups in Jaiselmer have given a memorandum signed in blood to the Collector. Banswara will remain shut tomorrow in anticipation of unruly violence.

Mall operators of the city have said that the decision not to screen the movie is of their tenant theaters and that the Mall management has decided not to intervene in the matter, giving the INOX and PVR full liberty to do as they please, in the matter.

Members of the Karni Sena had blocked the Pratapnagar highway, causing the Ahmebabad and Nathdwara routes to be blocked. Agitations also happened outside Celebration Mall.

Theater operators association in Gujarat too has decided not to screen the movie.