The release of a Bollywood film has been delayed after its female lead, Deepika Padukone, has faced death threats.
On Sunday, a member of India’s Hindu nationalist ruling party offered a 100 million rupee ($2 million) reward for anyone who beheads Padukone and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, CNN reports.
The bounty was offered by a member of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Suraj Pal Amu.
A romantic dream sequence that is rumoured to be included in the film, featuring a Hindu queen and an invading Muslim sultan, has angered right-wing Hindu groups. But as AP reports, the filmmakers of Padmavati have claimed it does not include such a scene.
Padukone stars as legendary Queen Padmavati in the movie, which was originally set for a December 1 release.
The chief minister in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has called for the movie to be banned if the ‘offensive’ scenes are not removed.
Padukone, one India’s most popular actresses, also faced threats earlier in November for her role. According to AAP, the head of the Rajput Karni Sena in Rajasthan claimed the star should be humiliated by having her nose cut for insulting the famous Queen.
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