Patralekhaa and Maanvi Gagroo’s upcoming film Heer Sara Aur Pondicherry was all set to hit screens on May 29, but four days before release, the makers dropped a bombshell — the film was postponed to June 12 and had a brand new title: Heer Sara. Now, we know why.
Industry insiders reveal that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is behind both the delay and the name change. A source close to the production told Cinecrazy, “A few scenes and themes didn’t seem acceptable to the CBFC’s Examining Committee. The process took a while, so the makers decided to push the release by two weeks.” But that wasn’t all — the board also demanded that Pondicherry be removed from the title.
Why The Title Change?
The CBFC reportedly felt that the film contains mature content that should not be associated with the Union Territory of Pondicherry. “The CBFC members were of the opinion that the film has certain mature content, which should not be associated with the Union Territory,” the source added. The official censor cut list for Heer Sara confirms that the title was modified. Additionally, the makers were asked to delete a derogatory word from the second half of the film.
Once these changes were made, the CBFC passed Heer Sara with an ‘A’ certificate on May 29. The final runtime is 1 hour, 39 minutes and 17 seconds (99 minutes and 17 seconds).
The Censor Board’s Controversial Decision
The CBFC’s diktat has sparked debate in Bollywood. An industry insider questioned, “Films like The Kashmir Files (2022), The Kerala Story (2023), Udaipur Files (2025) and The Bengal Files (2025) were passed without being asked to change their titles. Agra (2024) and Aligarh (2016) also kept their original names. Then why was a sweet, heartfelt film like Heer Sara Aur Pondicherry singled out?”
The decision seems inconsistent, especially since several films with place names in their titles have sailed through without a hitch. Cinecrazy has reached out to the CBFC for comment, but no response yet.
What’s The Film About?
Directed by Kartik Chaudhry, Heer Sara stars Patralekhaa and Maanvi Gagroo in lead roles, alongside Arif Zakaria, Shveta Salve and Nishank Verma. The film traces an emotional and transformative road journey of two women navigating personal struggles, societal expectations and emotional healing.
With the new title and a fresh release date, fans are eager to see if the censor controversy affects the film’s buzz. For now, Patralekhaa and Maanvi Gagroo’s heartfelt story will hit screens on June 12 — minus Pondicherry, but with plenty of emotion. Kya baat hai, CBFC?