News about 300 cuts in Bhansali’s ‘Padmavat’ untrue: CBFC chief

Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman Prasoon Joshi on Tuesday said the censor board had cleared ‘Padmavat’ and reports about 300 cuts in the film were untrue.

The makers had recently submitted the film for evaluation after making changes suggested by the board’s advisory panel.

“The makers have submitted the final film with agreed five modifications. These modifications have tried to incorporate observations and suggestions given by the advisory panel, in keeping with the sentiments of society.

“This has already been communicated by the CBFC and a U/A certificate has been given to the film. The CBFCs process is complete and any further news about cuts etc is absolutely untrue,” Joshi said in a statement to PTI.

He added that the board had already cleared the film and it should not be dragged into any controversy, in an apparent reference to a newspaper report claiming that the board has asked for 300 cuts in the film.

In a release on December 30, the CBFC had said that the film will get a “U/A certification along with some modifications” and a likely change in the title on the basis of the attributed creative source.

The movie, which was earlier set to arrive in theatres on December 1 last year, will now release on January 25.

Bhansali, who appeared before a parliamentary panel, had said his lavish Rs 150 crore period drama, featuring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is based on the 16th century epic poem ‘Padmavat’ by Malik Muhammad Jayasi.

With agency inputs