Pune: On Monday, the members of the Pune Exhibitors Association and Maharashtra Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association had confirmed that single screens will go ahead with the screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial film 'Padmaavat'. However a day later, the management at Apollo Theatre informed that they will not go ahead with the screening of this film. In a message sent to Sakal Times, the management said, "Apollo Theatre will not screen Padmavaat." 

When contacted, Jimmy Sukhia, proprietor, Apollo Theatre, Rasta Peth, said, "We are afraid to screen the film because there are chances of theatre being vandalised. We will screen the film for seven days but have to shut the theatre for three months. We do not want to do that." 

On asked if the decision was the result of pressure from socio-political group Karni Sena, he said, "We haven't received any threats directly but there are lots of indirect threats." 

But when reminded him of the Supreme Court's directives to the respective states to provide protection to the theatre, he said, "I don't think we will be given protection. A few years ago, we released another film in Mumbai for which the protests were on. However even in the midst of police protection, we had a bad experience. It's too much of expenditure which we cannot handle." 

Sukhia said that they have not opened the bookings for the tickets. The film starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh is releasing in theatres on January 25.