History doesn’t quite remember Alauddin Khilji like this, but that is the image Sanjay Leela Bhansali seeks to portray of the Khilji dynasty king in his film Padmaavat. Bhansali’s Khilji, played by Ranveer Singh, has kohl-rimmed hungry eyes, a scarred face, a gym-toned body, wears furs when he is not bare-chested and rips meat off the bone with his teeth. “Khilji was aware he was cruel but he was not the kind to be running after women and then conquering kingdoms. A section of academics believes the depiction of Khilji is only the latest move in a larger movement in parts of the country to distort history. Safvi is of the opinion that the Haldighati battle may have been inconclusive, but to make an individual as brave as Rana Pratap a victor through the backdoor did disservice to his memory.

Source: Hindustan Times January 25, 2018 10:52 UTC