This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Censor Board Tells Kundan Shah To Remove Salman, Amma And Sahara Jokes

No Jokes About Salman, Amma Or Subrata Roy: Censor Board To Kundan Shah
Pen Movies/YouTube

Kundan Shah, the 67-year-old director of enduring Hindi cinema classics such as 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' and 'Kabhi Haan, Kabhi Naa', has what might probably be his last ever release coming up on Friday: 'P Se PM Tak'. However, the run-up to its release isn't going as smoothly as he would've probably liked.

The Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC, commonly referred to as the 'Censor Board') has made numerous cuts to his latest film, according to a report in Mumbai Mirror. Despite Pahlaj Nihalani — whose recent take-over as CBFC chief has ushered in an era of strict moral-policiing — and board member Ashoke Pandit being his friends, Shah has been given several suggestions so that his film sticks to the board's 'guidelines'.

One of the suggestions is to remove all jokes that mention actor Salman Khan, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, and incarcerated Sahara boss Subrata Roy by name, even if not being used in a derogatory context.

"Who are they so afraid of? I was told that a celebrity, religious group or political party could sue me as well as raise a finger at the Censors. And I had to keep going back and forth with my film in order to salvage it," he was quoted as saying.

On his part, Nihalani has reportedly said that Shah had the option of taking his film to the CBFC Revising Committee to challenge the cuts, but has opted not to and has "made the cuts and accepted the certificate".

'P Se PM Tak', which releases on May 29, is a comedy about a prostitute who goes on to become the Prime Minister of India. Watch the trailer below.

Contact HuffPost India

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.