Padmavati Trailer Releases Exactly At 13:03 Today...But Why The Precise Time?

The Padmavati publicity machine is on an overdrive and for a reason. Monday dawned with the news that Padmavati, probably the most controversial and most awaited film of 2017, will debut its trailer today. But with the news was a reason for confusion too -- the trailer will come out at 13:03 on Monday. Now, why that precise time?

From Deepika Padukone , the film’s eponymous Padmavati, to Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh -- the film’s lead stars tweeted, “#PadmavatiTrailer arrives today at 13:03. Stay tuned! @FilmPadmavati.” The answer of 13:03 or 1303 lies in history.

According to Wikipedia, “In 1303, the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji captured the Chittor Fort from the Guhila king Ratnasimha, after an eight month long siege. The conflict has been described in several legendary accounts, including the historically unreliable Padmavat, which claims that Alauddin’s motive was to obtain Ratnasimha’s beautiful wife Padmini.” In the film Ratnasimha, or Ratan Singh, is being played by Kapoor while Singh is Khilji.

While the siege did happen, legend says it was not just to occupy a kingdom but to obtain the legendary beauty and queen of Chittor, Padmini or Padmavati. To escape from Khilji’s clutches, Padmavati committed jauhar (self immolation), according to legend. This account comes from Padmavat, a poem written by Malik Mohammad Jayasi in 1540. Here we give you the legend and the history in one comic:

Padmavati releases on December 1.