Padmaavat fallout: Censor Board Chairperson Prasoon Joshi says 'will miss great moments at Zee JLF'

New Delhi: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chief, Prasoon Joshi will not be attending the ongoing Zee Jaipur Literature Festival this year.

The CBFC chairperson said in a statement,“Will not be attending  JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees. And also so that the lovers of literature get to focus on creativity and not controversy.

Speaking of which, the issue around the film Padmaavat -  I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. As I have said earlier, certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to the concerns of the society as well as to the canvas of cinema. It’s sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue. It’s important that we keep mutual trust and faith in each other and our institutions so that the issues don’t reach this far.”

Prasoon Joshi was earlier scheduled to address a session titled 'Main aur Woh: Conversations with Myself' at the Zee JLF 2018.

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat has been embroiled in controversies ever since its inception. The film faced massive protests from fringe groups demanding a nationwide ban on the project.

The film got a green signal from the CBFC after a few modifications and title change. However, the fringe groups maintained that the filmmaker has distorted historical facts in the film. However, Bhansali time and again mentioned that none of these claims is true.

The film was initially scheduled to hit the screens on December 1, 2017.