Was Khilji So Cruel As Portrayed?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat finally saw the arc lights overcoming various controversies. People who watched the film felt that there is nothing controversial in the film and said that the film infact lacked in human emotions. 

Everyone felt that Ranveer Singh stole the show with his performance as Allauddin Khilji. But historians who watched the the film blasted Bhansali for showing Khilji as the most cruel, wicked murderer and sex maniac. 

They say Khilji was not as cruel as portrayed in the film. Tasneem Suhrawardy, professor of history at Delhi’s St Stephen’s College says Khilji attacked Chittor not out of love for Padmavati but to expand his kingdom. 

Some felt that Khilji is a strong ruler who defeated Mongols and established powerful kingdowm. 

Popular scholar Harbans Mukhia takes strong exception to the usage of Khilji as being cruel. 

Sandhya Sharma – a medieval history professor at Vivekananda College, Delhi University says Alauddin Khilji was a good administrator and reformer and points that he introduced a system of land assessment for revenue collection based on measurement, which was a precedent for similar systems under Sher Shah and Akbar. Besides, he also established a network of state granaries to ensure a regular supply of commodities.

He also introduced dagh and chehera as a part of military reforms to find out superior, inferior horses and also maintain records of the soldiers. 

Historian Rana Safvi said, Khilji introduced Persian culture to India. So, was there too much of liberty in Bhansali's Padmaavat cinematics?