Bollywood Unites to Support ‘Udta Punjab’

The who’s who of Bollywood united to voice their protest against Pahlaj Nihalani for ‘Udta Punjab’

Ekta Kapoor, Ashoke Pandit, Anurag Kashyap and Abhishek Chaubey at the press conference by Film and TV Directors’ Association in Mumbai (Photo courtesy: Twitter)

Almost the entire Bollywood fraternity came together on Wednesday evening to protest against the CBFC or more specifically, the CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani’s excesses against Udta Punjab. In a press conference in Mumbai, leading filmmakers and producers of the industry voiced their concerns in an unusual show of unity.

Here’s what they had to say:

Mahesh Bhatt

Mahesh Bhatt fears pre-censorship will become a trend in India (Photo courtesy: Twitter)

Do we want to build India into a Saudi Arabia? A society that does not respect free thought sows the seeds of its own destruction. And this is what is happening. Pahlaj Nihalani till yesterday fought shoulder to shoulder with me against the laws of censorship. And it’s tragic that today one of us goes and becomes a part of this.

It’s tragic that a film that shows the mirror is being stopped at a press conference In Mumbai.

This is the land of Gandhi I dare anyone stops us.

Pre-censorship will become a trend now.

Anurag Kashyap

Anurag Kashyap at the press conference (Photo courtesy: Twitter)

Black Friday gave me a reality check and killed my innocence. Have films become so bad that every film has to go to the tribunal?

We don’t want a person like Pahlaj who just lies.

Let the audience reject a film, why should one person decide what everyone should watch?

I have not taken money from AAP and I feel ashamed defending myself.

Udta Punjab doesn’t refer to any political party or politician.

I will try my best to release Udta Punjab without cuts and on time.

Zoya Akhtar

You cannot ask for 89 cuts and give a film an ‘Adult’ certificate. <i>Udta Punjab</i> has to release as it is.

Board has to certify a film and not censor.

Audience should have the final right to decide what they want to watch.

Shahid Kapoor

Shahid Kapoor plays a drug-addicted rockstar in Udta Punjab (Photo courtesy: Instagram)

The youth has the right to know drugs are a problem. They have a right to know what can happen to them if they do drugs, no matter where they are - Punjab or Maharashtra.

Sudhir Mishra

Director Sudhir Mishra was also present at the press conference (Photo courtesy: Instagram)

Ultimately <i>Udta Punjab</i> will release but producers may suffer a loss, it’s wrong. If the idea is to scare us let me me say I am not going to get scared.

Mukesh Bhatt

Mukesh Bhatt feels that Udta Punjab is being denied certification deliberately (Photo courtesy: Twitter)

I appeal to the ministry to remove Pahlaj Nihalani immediately.

Delay of Udta Punjab certification is deliberate and it’s not acceptable.

Pahlaj Nihalani’s intention is to deliberately delay Udta Punjab. Who will suffer the loss?