A day before the scheduled release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani, the film failed to secure a no-objection certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification in Pakistan on Wednesday, dna reported.

Mobasher Hasan, chairman of the film board, told The Express Tribune, “Firstly, the film is in Hindi, and our ordinance does not allow Hindi films to be screened. Secondly, it is a historical drama that is indirectly against Islam and Muslims.” Hasan clarified that their decision had nothing to do with the intimate scenes in the movie. Local film distributors demanded a full board film review after the decision was announced.

However, two of the country's regional censor boards – the Sindh Board of Film Certification in Karachi and the Punjab Censor Board in Lahore approved the release of the film, which stars Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra.

The film has been embroiled in controversy since its promotional trailers and songs were released, with descendants of the Peshwa claiming that it distorts historical facts.