CBFC gives 'A' certificate to Raaz Reboot for TV promo; cuts 16 out of 32 uses of 'f***' in the film

Vikram Bhatt says he is tired of fighting with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and that he is not a crusader, but just a helpless filmmaker. [caption id=“attachment_2960244” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Kriti Kharbanda and Emraan Hashmi in ‘Raaz Reboot’[/caption] Bhatt has been asking for an explanation as the promos of his forthcoming film Raaz Reboot received U/A certificate for theatres and got an A certificate for TV, which is a watered down version. Bhatt told IANS, “I am appalled. I am damn tired. I don’t know if I can add anything to it. Why do I need a censor certificate for TV? Aahat and Fear Files don’t require certificates, but my 20-second promo which is not that scary requires a certificate. What do I say? We are not a priority?” He added, “How can I bring a change? I am screaming out loud alone. I am a filmmaker and not a crusader. If I was a crusader I would have done something. I am just a helpless filmmaker who is finding it difficult to showcase this promotional material.” He also shared that he is just demanding for a logical explanation from CBFC. He said, “I am only asking for standardised kind of logic… just give me some logic. Explain it to me. I will understand. They are only saying that they cannot allow this. Why you cannot allow, is a debate.” That is not all, the censor board has also asked the filmmaker to reduce the usage of the word F**K in the trailer from 32 to 16. In a post shared on Facebook the director expressed his frustration towards the CBFC saying “Now the Censors want me to cut half the “F*&# *#*” and retain only sixteen. Why sir? Why retain half? What is the logic? The logic is that thirty-two “F*#& **#” is just too many and it cannot be allowed. But why then is sixteen not too many? Cause sixteen is not thirty-two. And it is as simple as that!”

In a strange irony, only last month the producer Mukesh Bhatt had expressed his joy over the censor board clearing his films without any cuts. “The intent of the filmmaker was not to titillate you. It is a film made with a very good intent. That was communicated to each and every member (of the board),” Bhatt told PTI. Looks like the producer celebrated a little too soon. Raaz Reboot, the fourth film of the Raaz franchise, features Emraan Hashmi, Kriti Kharbanda and Gaurav Arora. Produced by Vishesh Films, the film will release on 16 September. With inputs from IANS