Beyond Disclaimers, No More Drinking, Smoking In ‘UA’ Films: CBFC

Pahlaj Nihalani doesn’t want stars to smoke or drink on the big screen.

Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit in Devdas.

If Bimal Roy or Sanjay Leela Bhansali were to remake Devdas today they may find it impossible to do so.

A drunk hero like Dilip Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan in Devdas or Amitabh Bachchan in Sharaabi, is  soon going  to be a thing of the past.

A  reported new ban order by the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) puts an end to all liquor consumption, specially  by leading men.

In the recent Munna Michael, Nawazuddin Siddiqui was not allowed to be shown drinking although he  played a gangster. Not just that, any liquor bottle on display in the frames has to be blurred.

Says the CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihlani, “ Merely putting a ticker warning at some remote corner of the screen whenever there is smoking or drinking shown, is not enough any more. We feel the superstars who are followed by millions and who  set an example in societal behaviour must not be shown drinking or smoking on screen unless  the provocation for doing so is really strong.”

Wonder what could be passed for a strong “provocation” for consuming alcohol or smoking?

Perhaps alcohol-related images would be allowed in a film about prohibition like Rahul Dholakia's Raees?

"A film where alcohol is essential would have to go with a Adults certificate," adds the censor chief.