The Bombay High Court today refused to grant a stay on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film 'Bajirao Mastani'. The Court asked the respondents to file a reply within a week. The High Court was hearing a petition alleging distortion of historical facts pertaining to late King Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa in the film. The respondents include Maharashtra government, Chairman of Central Board of Film Certification, Producer-Director of the film Sanjay Leela Bhansali and three lead actors — Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone.<br/> <br/>The bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil, however, asked the petitioner's lawyer R N Kachave to make the central government a respondent in view of allegations of violation of Cinematophic Act. The petition, filed by Pune-based activist Hemant Patil, objected to a song in the film 'Pingaa' and 'Malhari' saying it incorrectly portrays the characters of the Bajirao and his wives. The petitioner alleged that Bajirao and his wives never danced in their life time. He said the song 'Pingaa' is "offensive" to Marathi culture and degrading to a Maharashtrian lady. <br/><br/>It necessary to prevent such film- makers from imaginary and fictitious films on historical persons as it may hurt the sentiments of people. Earlier, Prasadrao Peshwa, the descendant of Bajirao Peshwa I, in a letter written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Prasadrao demanded that the government look into the matter, review the film, investigate the matter and take a decision accordingly.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, activists of right wing outfits today protested against the screening of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Dilwale" by staging demonstrations and shouting slogans outside cinemas in Mumbai even as BJP workers forced cancellation of shows of 'Bajirao Mastani' in Pune alleging it distorted history. <br/><br/>Activists of the Hindu Sena were detained after they tried to storm into a mall in Dadar and threatened to stall the shows of Rohit Shetty's "Dilwale". They raised slogans against Shah Rukh Khan apparently over his recent remarks on the issue of 'intolerance.' However, the protestors were stopped by the policemen, deployed there in large numbers in anticipation of trouble. Five of the protestors were detained and taken to Dadar Police Station.