Babumoshai Bandookbaaz: CBFC orders 48 cuts in Nawazuddin Siddiqui's upcoming film

Not long ago, there were rumours doing rounds that Pahlaj Nihalani will have to step down from the position of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief because of his decisions, statements and logic pertaining to quite a few films in the recent past. But, just when the film industry was heaving a sigh of relief at his supposed exit, Nihalani made sure that his presence was felt amid all the speculation. According to an India Today report_,_ the CBFC chief and his team have ordered a staggering 48 cuts in the upcoming film, Babumoshai Bandookbaaz, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Bidita Bag. [caption id=“attachment_3360060” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Babumoshai Bandookbaaz teaser poster. Image from Twitter[/caption] On being asked by India Today  regarding this decision, Nihalani said, “We are just doing our job.” Siddiqui’s film has been in the headlines for quite some time now: First it was actress Chitrangada Singh walking out of the project citing intimate scenes with Siddiqui to be a matter of concern. However, director Kushan Nandy denied this and said that at the script level, the actress was not on the same page as the rest of the team. Second, the whole uproar on racism that followed with Siddiqui's tweet on colour-bias in casting of actors in Bollywood films. The casting director of the film had earlier reportedly said that it was difficult to find a ‘fair actor’ opposite Siddiqui in the film. Kushan Nandy, however, said that the casting director had made an unfortunate remark. He added that since the final cast selection rested with him, he made sure that actors were selected purely on the basis of merit and the requirement of the script. Speaking to Times of India about Siddiqui’s character, Nandy said, “He plays a small-time contract killer, a common man who just happens to be a contract killer. Killing is his job, it’s not who he is. There is no anger or emotion. Nawaz is completely identifiable in the role of this rustic common man with a fun side to him.” Babumoshai Bandookbaaz also stars Divya Dutta, Jatin Goswami, Shraddha Das, Anil George, Bhagwan Tiwari, Murli Sharma, Jitu Shivhare and Navin Tyagi. It is slated to release on 25 August.