'Padmaavat' earns Rs 19 cr on opening day

Mumbai: Notwithstanding the protests against 'Padmaavat ', which have marred the release of the film in many states, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed film has taken a stupendous opening at the box office in India, earning around Rs 19 crore on its opening day on Thursday, trade sources said on Friday. 

Despite multiplexes in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Goa not screening the film due to protests and Haryana; Uttar Pradesh and Bihar seeing a limited release, early estimates say the film has earned around Rs 19 cr from across India on its opening day on Thursday. 

Trade experts say the film has taken a good opening overseas as well. 
Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor, 'Padmaavat ' is based on the poem 'Padmaavat', written by a 16th-century poet, Malik Muhammad Jayasi.It tells the tale of the beautiful Rani Padmini of Chittor, and how she avoided falling into the clutches of Turkish invader, Alauddin Khilji, by committing self-immolation or Jauhar. The film has been embroiled in a controversy with the Rajput Karni Sena protesting release of the film, charging Bhansali with distorting history. (UNI)