The PIL is expected to be heard on Thursday and the movie, which has mostly been shot in Gujarat, is slated to release on November 15. Petitioner Siddhrajsinh Mahavirsinh Chudasama (32), who hails from the "Darbar" community, has alleged his community has been "misrepresented" in the movie.
"Darbar" is a caste of the Rajput community consisting of sub-castes such as Jadeja, Zala, Gohil, Chudasama, Rana, Vada, Parmar, Sodha, Vaja, Chauhan, Rathore, Vaghela, among others. The petitioner has alleged director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and producer Kishore Lulla had adopted a "totally insensitive approach not only to the Darbar community but the Hindu religion as a whole".
According to the petitioner, since the movie "hurts the sentiments of Hindus" as well as promotes "vulgarity", the release of the movie must be stopped in Gujarat.
The petitioner has argued the movie showed enmity between the Rabari and Darbar communities for the last 500 years and a daughter of the Jadeja family (Darbar), which is a character played by Deepika Padukone, having romantic relations with a boy from the Rabari community, which is the character essayed by Ranveer Singh.
"Vulgar" and "intimate" scenes as well as "abusive language" have also been alleged to be used in the movie by the female character, which "hurt" the "sentiments" of "female Darbar tradition".
The petitioner also stated "Darbar" and "Rabari" are two different communities holding respectful positions in Gujarat. Events depicted in the movie may result in provocation or instigation of fights between the two communities, the petitioner claimed, adding that releasing such a film may also result in a violent situation between Darbar and Rabari families in Gujarat, which would have a devastating effect on the law and order in the state.