Bhubaneshwar: Sanjaya Leela Bhanshali’s epic “Padmavati” has now found a new detractor in Puri Shankaracharya who has demanded that the filmmaker be made to apologise for distorting Indian history.

A video of Puri seer Swami Nischalananda Saraswati addressing a religious gathering at Ranchi shows him bitterly criticising the upcoming film for twisting facts and distorting the character of the Rajput queen in the period drama which has been embroiled in controversy.

For such distortion which amounts to the violation of human rights, Nischalananda Saraswati said, the director be declared an offender.

“He should be made to apologise for distorting the glorious history of India so that no one dares repeat the mistake in the future,” the Seer said.

The Shankaracharya said the filmmaker must realise that even western analysts have bowed before the history of Rani Padmavati.

“Distorting Indian history is a western conspiracy. The person who has made such a gross violation must be declared an offender,” he said.

The filmmaker should be forced to atone for his wrongdoing so that no one attempts distortion of history India’s history in future, the Puri Seer said.

Bhansali’s Padmavati is slated for a December 1 release but has drawn flak from the Rajput community in several states. Some have demanded a ban while I&B Ministry has been requested to intervene and stop its screening.