KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 — Indian epic drama Padmaavat is currently facing a hurdle in Malaysia as it has been banned by the Film Censorship Board (LPF) from being screened in local cinemas.

The reason given was that the movie contains elements that are sensitive to the Muslim society in the country.

When contacted, a rep from the movie's local distributor, Antenna Entertainment, told Cinema Online that they are now appealing for the ban to be lifted.

The Film Appeal Committee will be reviewing the movie today.

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie was deemed to be controversial for local screening as it supposedly features the romance between a Muslim ruler and a Hindu queen.

Malaysia is not the only country who is uncomfortable with the idea as even in India it courted controversy prior to its release, which was delayed for two months as Hindus protested that the portrayal of 14th Century Muslim emperor Alauddin Khilji (played by Ranveer Singh) as being in love with Hindu queen Padmaavati (played by Deepika Padukone) was "distorting history".

However, in India, it had reportedly been clarified that there is no such portrayal in the movie.

Looks like audiences will only get to judge it for themselves if and when the movie finally gets released in cinemas here.

Padmaavat was originally scheduled for release on January 25, 2018 in Malaysia. — CinemaOnline