Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmaavat' is finally running in theatres, and at what speed! The period drama starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Shahid Kapoor that hit the wrong chords with several fringe groups has turned out to be an opulent success. After facing hooliganism, delay by the censor board and other issues, the film has managed to make its way into people's hearts.
While critics are showering their praise on the film, Ranveer Singh's Alauddin Khilji is undoubtedly the winner. 'Padmaavat' managed to earn Rs 32 Crore on its 2nd day, bringing the total collection of the film to Rs 56 Crores in just three days. Not only is the amount a sign of monumental success, specially considering the widespread disturbance around theatres by fringe group Karni Sena, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's achievement is breaking barriers. Singh, who said he was in angst over the controversies around the film, said many people told him a hero shouldn't play the anti-hero.
Releasing a statement over the ongoing success of his film, he said, “It is extremely rare and overwhelming to get this kind of love from the audience. I'm grateful and touched that everyone has been so appreciative of my performance.” He added, “I will be honest. When I was offered 'Padmaavat', most people were of the opinion that a hero should not play the anti-hero. But I believed otherwise. I saw Khilji as a challenge for me, as an actor and I wanted to take the challenge up. I went with the vision of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and my instinct of what I could achieve with Khilji.”
“I'm happy that the audiences are seeing and loving a character that both Sanjay sir and I have worked on tirelessly for over two years to bring to life. I took a big risk with this character and it's wonderful to see my gamble pay off. This kind of validation gives one the confidence to take bigger and bigger risks, challenge stereotypes and continue to push the envelope in the realm of mainstream Hindi cinema.”
