A 30-member of Parliamentary panel has called Sanjay Leela Bhansali, director of the Indian movie, Padmavati, to brief them on the controversy.

The panel has asked producers and officials of the information and broadcasting ministry of India to appear before it and brief about the controversy relating to the $22.6 million USD film, Indian media reported Wednesday. 

It has also called on the censor board chief Prasoon Joshi to appear before it and present their views on the controversy surrounding the movie which has been accused of distorting history.

“The panel has asked Bhansali and Joshi to appear before it and present their views on the movie. They can present their case before the panel. The members have also decided to call the producers of the movie," chairman of the panel Anurag Thakur said as quoted by India’s PTI.

The committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday.

Actors Paresh Rawal and Raj Babbar, who are members of Parliament, are also part of the panel which will examine the issues relating to the movie.

Parliamentary sources said they have reached out to Bhansali, but he appeared to be "shying away" from appearing before the panel.

The censor board is yet to clear the film.

The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is based on Rajput queen Padmini.

As allegations of distorting history in the film triggered protests in various states of India, the makers of the movie have deferred its release date.

The film was scheduled to release on December 1.

Before this the leader of a Hindu nationalist group has said that all UK cinemas screening a controversial Bollywood film should be “burnt down”, according to the UK’s Express.

Critics believe the movie, suggests the iconic 14th century Hindu queen, Padmavati, engaged in a romantic relationship with Muslim invader Alauddin Khilji.

On Tuesday, the India’s Supreme Court rejected a legal attempt to block the global release of Bollywood film Padmavati that has sparked violent protests, warning against pre-judging the controversial historical epic, according to Gulf Times report.

Caste-based groups have been staging violent demonstrations alleging the film distorts historical facts.

The Supreme Court dismissed a legal petition to delay its release abroad, saying nobody should pre-judge the censors before the film is classified.

A number of Indian officials, including state chief ministers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, had vowed to ban screenings of the film in their jurisdictions unless controversial sections were removed.

The leader of a caste-related group also offered $769,000 to anyone who “beheaded” lead actress Deepika Padukone or director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said last week that the film will not be allowed to release in his state even if the censor board cleared it.