New Delhi, Nov 18 (UNI) Veteran actor Shabana Azmi on Saturday appealed to the entire film industry to boycott the prestigious International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in protest against the threat to Deepika Padukone, who played 'Padmavati' in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film of the same name, the director and others involved in its making.



'The entire film industry should boycott IFFI in protest against the threats to @deepikapadukone SLB and # Padmavati,' Ms Azmi tweeted.



IFFI, the annual celebration of the cinema begins in Goa from November 20



Some groups like Sri Rajput Karni Sena have said they will not allow the film to be released and threatened Deepika and Bansali with dire consequences.



Ms Azmi also slammed the Government over 'keeping quiet' about threat of violence against Padmavati. She said Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani was able to showcase the best of Indian films to the world through IFFI only because of the talent and hard work of the Indian film Industry.



' Smriti Irani is preparing dats possible only bcoz the Indian film industry brings such acclaim to it but keeps quiet about Padmavati,' Ms Azmi said in another tweet.



'This is exactly like HKL Bhagat and Congress celebrating IFFI in Delhi after the murder of Safdar Hashmi in 1089.Cultural Annihilation,' she said.



Meanwhile, the Central Board of Film Certification has sent ‘Padmavti back to its makers on some technical ground, according to sources.

UNI NAZ RSA 1520