Patna: Padmaavat will be screened in the state capital from Monday, four days after it managed to release elsewhere in the country - except for four states - in the face of violent protests.
Cinepolis, Mona and Elphinstone cinema halls in Patna have decided to screen the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film, which stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, from Monday.
These are, however, baby steps. The fear factor has not totally died down after hoodlums brandishing sticks and swords ran amok disrupting the movie's release on Friday.
While Cinepolis has opted for only online booking for 15 shows that it will run, eight of which will be 2D shows and seven will be 3D, Mona and Elphinstone have decided to sell tickets from the counters before the shows.
However, Cinepolis is taking online booking only for Monday, and will take a call on the future course of action after assessing the situation in the light of protests by those claiming allegiance to the Rajput Karni Sena.
The multiplex has priced the shows from Rs 250 to Rs 360 per ticket depending on the type and timing of the shows.
The response to online booking of seats was feeble till late evening on Sunday with only around 15 per cent seats filled.
Mona and Elphinstone decided to opt for current booking for safety's sake.
"There is nothing controversial in Padmaavat and people who have seen it elsewhere are vouching for it," said said Sharad Gupta, the manager of Mona and Elphinstone cinema halls. "I don't think there will be any problem now. We are releasing it from tomorrow (Monday) and tickets will be available from the counter before the shows. We will take further decision after seeing the response to the shows,"
Regent Fun Cinemas, another of the big halls in Patna, has decided to play safe and will decide about releasing the movie after seeing the response at Cinepolis, Mona and Elphinstone.
Elsewhere in the state, three more theatres, one each in Muzaffarpur, Hajipur and Darbhanga, started screening the film on Sunday. The police were alert to prevent any untoward incident.
Karni Sena members were not available for comment despite repeated attempts.
