When Hema Malini played Rani Padmini

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama is yet to receive a certificate from the CBFC. Several Rajput outfits and political leaders are accusing the director of "distorting historical facts" in the movie.

Historians are divided over whether Padmini actually existed.

Malini had played a number historical characters on the TV series "Tera Panhey", which depicted 13 chapters from the history. Rani Padmini was one of the characters she played in the series, which aired in 1986 on Doordarshan.

The 69-year-old actor was speaking at a panel discussion, "Seventy is the New Seventy – Who the Hell Wants to be Thirty?" along with author-columnist Shobhaa De and Ram Kamal Mukherjee, who penned Malini's biography "Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl".

When asked if people have become a little too sensitive about issues, especially in the case of Padmavati, Malini said, "I feel very happy that I've done Padmavati's role, that is Rani Padmini in 'Tera Panhey'."

She then quipped, "Mine already got a release."

When asked where she sees herself in the next five years in politics, she said she does not harbour "big political" ambitions and wants to serve people.

"I was offered to be in Rajya Sabha, but because I was coming from another background, it was tough. But I really enjoy it. Being a politician, I get so much love from the people. I don't have any great ambition to be a minister or anything. I just want to serve people."