Exclusive: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone's viral kiss deeply irks Bhansali?

At a time when all efforts are being made to shoot Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical opus Padmavati in strict secrecy and with utter discretion, the ‘together’ pictures of the lead cast, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, have generated a serious case of heebie-jeebies.

The wounds are yet to heal from the attack from a Rajput organisation that the team suffered in January in Jaipur.

The Padmavati team was attacked yet again in March, while shooting in Kolhapur. In both cases, the damage to the film’s movable property, and more crucially to the crew’s morale, was indescribable.

Sanjay’s brief after the grief was terse: be careful and discreet. This is what he advised Ranveer and Deepika, who don’t share one single frame together, let alone a song the couple was rumoured to share.

Says a source close to the development, “He doesn’t care whether Ranveer and Deepika are seeing each other. He just wanted to avoid the image of the two actors as a couple, as this could harm the film.”

The picture of Ranveer and Deepika kissing going viral has deeply upset Sanjay. This PDA, say sources, is the last thing the film needs.

“At a time when the film’s anxious producers, Viacom 18 Motion Picture, and director Sanjay want to ensure those protesting against the film that the two have no scenes together, a picture of them getting cosy in public is eminently avoidable, to say the least,” says a source.

As Padmavati readies to release on November 17, the over-zealous pair is best reminded that the film’s success is important to all concerned.