Malaysia has barred controversial Bollywood film “Padmaavat” from being screened in theatres, the home ministry said on Friday, citing the movie’s negative portrayal of a Muslim ruler. The film has already attracted protests in India, after groups critical of the project accused its director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, of distorting history. Last month, India’s top court allowed the film to be screened nationwide, despite moves to ban it in two states, arguing that a ban would violate creative freedoms. Malaysia has previously banned films deemed religiously insensitive, such as Noah on 2014. The main reason for the ban, according to the ministry’s Film Censorship Board (LPF) division, was Noah’s depiction by Hollywood actor Russell Crowe. Islam forbids visual depictions of any prophet.