Prakash Jha's film 'Raajneeti' is set to hit theatres next week with the Censor Board giving it clearance after the director agreed to delete certain violent scenes and references to homosexuality.
The Board had referred the movie to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, which gave it a U/A certificate (Unrestricted Public Exhibition with parental guidance for children below 12 years) with a rider that the filmmaker will remove certain dialogues and scenes from the movie.
"The Tribunal members saw the film. There are scenes of violence and abusive language has been used in certain parts. There are also references to homosexuality, which we asked the filmmaker to delete," a senior Board official said.
The official dismissed reports that Katrina's role had resemblance to the life of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. "Katrina Kaif's character bears no resemblance to Sonia Gandhi. There were no objections to any character in the film," the official said.
When contacted, Jha refused to say whether the Tribunal had asked him to delete scenes.
"You have to ask them (Tribunal) whether there is a rider or not. All I know is that my film has got a U/A certificate," Jha told PTI.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Ministry said it has no say in the matter. "The censor board is a quasi-judicial body, whose decisions are binding on filmmakers. The ministry cannot influence or intervene in its functioning," a senior I&B official said.
The film starring Kaif, Ajay Devgn, Ranbir Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Manoj Bajpai, is set to hit theatres on June 4.
'Rajneeti' is the story of a family caught on the throes of dynasty politics. PTI
