Khela hobe na: CBFC says no to Mamata references in Alia-Ranveer starrer

CBFC orders cuts and changes in Karan Johar’s ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ ahead of July 28 release

| Updated: 24 July, 2023 12:30 pm IST

Set in West Bengal, the film has references to state CM Mamata Banerjee, which the CBFC has asked to remove or, in some cases, change

KOLKATA: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has stepped in to enforce several cuts and alterations in Karan Johar’s highly anticipated film ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, which is scheduled for release on July 28.

Set against the backdrop of West Bengal, the movie weaves together the state’s literary stalwarts, political figures, and colloquial references, playing a significant role in the movie’s narrative.

In an effort to present a contemporary and realistic portrayal, the film includes a mention of Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

However, the CBFC has intervened and requested the removal of a dialogue referring to CM Banerjee, who is also the supremo of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). As a result, the entire dialogue related to her character has been removed from the film.

In the movie trailer, another notable mention is the phrase ‘khela hobe’ (the game will be played), uttered by the female protagonist, played by actor Alia Bhatt. This phrase gained immense significance during the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections, where it became a catchphrase of the ruling TMC.

CM Banerjee herself used it extensively in her election speeches, leading to its widespread popularity in the state, with memes, songs, and parodies based on ‘khela hobe’ flooding the internet.

However, it remains uncertain whether the phrase will be retained in the final version of the film or edited out.

The film also includes a portrait of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, referred to as ‘dadaji’ by the male protagonist, portrayed by Ranveer Singh. This particular scene is also subject to potential alterations as per the CBFC’s recommendations.

Apart from these key changes, the CBFC has suggested a few more alterations, such as replacing ‘old monk,’ a popular rum brand, with ‘bold monk,’ and changing the word ‘bra’ to ‘item.’

The star-studded film features eminent actors like Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Aamir Bashir, Churni Ganguly, and Tota Roychowdhury, who share the screen with Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt.

Karan Johar’s ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ marks his directorial comeback after a hiatus of seven years since the release of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ in 2016.