Vivek Oberoi cancels press meet after EC stops release of PM Narendra Modi biopic

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, who is playing Narendra Modi in the biopic on the prime minister, cancelled a scheduled press meet here on Wednesday after the Election Commission banned its screening during poll period. The EC's order came a day before the film was to be released. Oberoi was scheduled to speak to media-persons in Maharashtra's Nagpur city in the afternoon, but he cancelledthe meet after the EC announced its order.

The first phase of Lok Sabha polls starts on Thursday. The EC banned the biopic's screening during poll period, saying a film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media. The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by a Congress activist seeking stay on the release of the biopic and said the EC would be an "appropriate" place to seek the redressal.

The plea sought deferment of the biopic's release till the completion of the Lok Sabha polls, alleging that it was designed to "manipulate, influence and impress viewers and voters.

"Any biopic in the nature of biography or hagiography sub-serving the purposes of any political entity or any individual entity connected to it or which has the potential to disturb the level playing field during the elections should not be displayed in electronic media, including cinematograph during the operation of MCC," the EC said in its order.

It also said that any poster or publicity material concerning any such certified content which either depicts a candidate for furtherance of electoral prospect directly or indirectly shall not be put to display in the electronic media in the area where MCC is in force. The poll panel said it has received complaints about certain films, namely "NTR Laxmi", "PM Narendra Modi" and "Udyama Simham", which "claimed to either diminish or advance the electoral prospect of a candidate or a political party in the garb of creative freedom".