The Censor Board’s Scissors
David Dhawan’s comeback directorial, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, is all set to hit screens this Friday, June 5. But before the fun-filled comedy reaches audiences, it had to pass through the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). And as per industry sources, the censor board was in full form, demanding several cuts and modifications.
The film has been awarded a U/A 16+ certificate. However, the makers had to make multiple changes to get the green light. At four different points in the film, the CBFC’s Examining Committee asked for certain words to be replaced with more appropriate terms. A vulgar hand gesture was also ordered to be swapped out.
The Curious Case of Cricket Stars
One of the most interesting edits involves cricket stars Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes. A shot featuring their names was visually trimmed down to just six seconds. While the exact context remains under wraps, insiders suggest the names were used in a way that didn’t sit well with the board.
But that’s not all. The condom brand names in the film were blurred, and any mention of flavour names was completely muted. Clearly, the censor board wanted to keep things clean for the U/A audience.
Additionally, the board directed the makers to zoom in on the faces and upper bodies of dancing women in certain visuals, as their undergarments were visible. The modifications were made, and the censor certificate was finally handed over on May 27.
All Set for a Summer Release
The final runtime of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is 136 minutes and 40 seconds – that’s 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 40 seconds of pure Dhawan-style comedy. Produced by Ramesh Taurani of Tips Films, the film boasts a stellar ensemble cast including Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde, Maniesh Paul, Chunky Pandey, Jimmy Shergill, Mouni Roy, Rakesh Bedi, Ali Asgar, and Rajesh Kumar.
With the censor formalities out of the way, the team is now gearing up for a big release. The trailers and songs have already generated decent buzz, and fans are eager to see Varun reunite with his father’s mentor David Dhawan. Will the film live up to expectations? We’ll find out this Friday!