No premiere but a special screening for Padmaavat

Despite numerous threats towards the cast and crew, Padmaavat went ahead with a special screening on Tuesday at PVR Cinemas, Lower Parel. Since massive premieres are no longer the norm when it comes to movies, it was only natural that there wasn’t a gala event for audiences and cast alike. However, the makers did keep a screening for their close friends and family.

“Even if they wanted to have a huge event like the erstwhile films used to, the milieu is just not right for an event of that sort,” says a trade source.

The screening did have its moments, however. This was the first time Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone — who are pitted opposite each others as foes in Padmaavat — were seen together since the film’s ordeal began.

The duo walked in hand in hand for the special cast and crew screening. An eyewitness says, “Ranveer was walking a bit behind Deepika. When the actress saw the cameras, she held out her hand to Ranveer who promptly took it and the two walked towards the screening. It was rather surprising for the photographers gathered there as well to see Deepika make that gesture.”

But then, Deepika and Ranveer had just celebrated the actress’s birthday in Sri Lanka and had been keeping a low profile only out of necessity. “The filmmakers had basically issued a diktat that since they aren’t lovers in the film, they should refrain from being seen together in public till the film released. Such things can hamper the way the audience looks at the film. But there is nothing to worry about since the film is now in the theatres,” says an insider.

The screening also saw Shahid’s wife Mira, mother Neelima Azeem, half brother Ishaan, father Pankaj Kapoor and step-mom Supriya Pathak along with producer Tutu Sharma and actress wife Padmini Kolhapure in attendance. Interestingly, this is not the first high-security screening that SLB has had to organise.

Bajirao Mastani too had a special screening at Yash Raj Studios, which was attended by a lot of celebrities from Bollywood, but was held securely in the premises of the strongly guarded studios. Hence, it was trouble free in the face of some opposition from the Maratha community. “There was dinner and drinks made available after the screening and it was held like a mini premiere, but it was a special screening,” adds the trade expert.    
— Sanskriti Media