Top 5 bollywood bold films that had a huge fight with sensor board

Bollywood and the love-hate relationship with the censor board is the drama we all hate. Yet their toxic relationship has been a thing forever. From controversial content to protests, some of our fave Hindi movies have had a rough time making it to the big screen. Whether it’s because of certain groups getting offended or the censor board just not vibing with the content, these films went through some serious ups and downs. Let’s dive into 5 films that faced delays or issues with censor approval and why it’s such a thing in Bollywood.

1. Padmaavat

Yo, Padmaavat is the poster child for censorship drama in Bollywood. This film was straight-up iconic even before it hit theaters. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh, the movie faced huge opposition from certain groups like the Rajput Karni Sena. They believed the film changed the story of the glorious history and disrespected the queen. What followed next? Multiple Protests took place, destruction happened on the sets, and a lot of controversies also took place. The film had to change its name from Padmavati to Padmaavat and face multiple cuts before it was finally allowed to release. But despite all the drama, it became a blockbuster hit. Haters gonna hate, but art always wins.

2. Udta Punjab

Udta Punjab was at the top of those bold movies that shook everyone up. With a strong and bold storyline that was based on drug addiction in Punjab, the film had a lot of profanity, substance abuse, and honestly, just raw AF content. And of course, there was one strict point where the censor board wasn’t feeling that the movie was right for the audience. They wanted to chop up like half the movie before it got approved for release. The filmmakers fought hard, and the battle even went to court. In the end, Udta Punjab did make it to theaters with some cuts, but the whole ordeal raised some serious conversations about creative freedom. Guess what? It still became a massive hit and was loved by the audience for its realness.

3. The Accidental Prime Minister

What is the main attraction of a film that is based on a political character or scenario? Those films are bound to stir up some drama, which will happen. The Accidental Prime Minister was based on the life of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and was naturally a hot topic. Some political groups, especially the Congress party, were not having it. A former Congress leader filed a case against the movie, and that led to its release being delayed. After a court battle and some cuts, it finally made its way to the screens. But the controversy? Still buzzing. It’s Bollywood, after all.

4. Kabir Singh

Okay, let’s talk about Kabir Singh because this movie had the internet divided. On one hand, you had people vibing with Shahid Kapoor’s intense portrayal of a flawed lover, and on the other, you had a massive debate about toxic masculinity, glorifying substance abuse, and unhealthy relationships. Even though it wasn’t a huge censor board issue, the movie did face delays and edits. But despite all the backlash, Kabir Singh became a mega-hit. People couldn’t stop talking about it, good or bad. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny the impact it had.

5. Lipstick Under My Burkha

Lipstick Under My Burkha was bold, unapologetic, and told stories of women’s desires in a way that Bollywood hadn’t seen before. The censor board, though? They were SHOOK. They straight-up denied it a release certificate at first, calling it “too lady-oriented” and saying it had “explicit content”. After a massive public outcry and some cuts, the movie was finally released, and it became a symbol of creative freedom and the fight against patriarchy. This movie went on to be a critical and commercial success, proving that Bollywood needs more stories like this.

So why is Bollywood always battling the censor board? In a country as diverse as India, it’s hard to find content that pleases everyone. One truth about all these controversies is that there will be some movies that will push the boundaries for greatness to challenge the old societal norms, or to highlight the sensitive topic, and those are the points where the trouble is born. The censor board in India has a rigorous policy about what’s “appropriate” for the audiences, but many times it feels like these rules are limiting or reducing the creative level of the films, many films that can make the audience think about the societal problems, have to go through a huge rough stick rules because of this. Artists want to tell real, raw stories, but they’re often met with resistance when their work is considered “too bold” or “controversial”.