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Years after the explosive controversy surrounding the film "Udta Punjab," former Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani has made a startling accusation. In a recent statement, he claimed that filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, one of the film's producers, was the one who actually leaked the movie online before its release, calling it a deliberate "marketing strategy."
This claim adds a new layer to one of Bollywood's most high-profile battles over censorship. Back in 2016, "Udta Punjab," a film that delves into the drug crisis in Punjab, was at the center of a major showdown between the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), then headed by Nihalani, and its makers. The CBFC had demanded numerous cuts, reportedly as many as 94, citing profanity and its depiction of the state.
The standoff escalated publicly, with Anurag Kashyap fiercely opposing the cuts and calling Nihalani's tenure dictatorial. The filmmakers eventually took the matter to court and won, with the Bombay High Court clearing the film for release with just a single cut. However, just days before its theatrical debut, a version of the film marked "for censor" surfaced on torrent sites.
At the time, speculation was rife, with many pointing fingers at the CBFC. Nihalani had denied any involvement then, and now, he is turning the tables completely. He alleges that when the film wasn't gaining enough traction, Kashyap orchestrated the leak to create a buzz. "This was Anurag's play, and he did it all the time," Nihalani reportedly said, suggesting it was a calculated move to cash in on the controversy.
Nihalani further claimed that the other producers of the film were ready to agree to the Censor Board's cuts, but Kashyap resisted to fuel the disputeThis accusation reframes a narrative that was largely seen as a fight for creative freedom against an overly restrictive censor board.
Anurag Kashyap, who was the face of the public fight against the CBFC at the time, has not yet responded to these latest allegations. The incident serves as a reminder of the intense drama that unfolded behind the scenes of a film that dared to tackle a difficult subject.
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