Filmmaker Kabir Khan recently opened up about his movie ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, starring Salman Khan, at an event. In the film, the actor played the role of a Hindu, a devotee of Lord Hanuman, who puts his best effort into escorting a Muslim girl back to her home in Pakistan. During the same, the director also shared how the Censor Board wanted him to chop off the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ dialogue from the film.
CBFC wanted to drop ‘Jai Shree Ram’ from the film
At the Indian Express’ Expresso event, Kabir Khan was asked if he could make the same movie in today’s political scenario. The filmmaker said that he can, and if the movie still gets love from the audience, it would mean that “somewhere it hit home.” The filmmaker said, “I feel it’s the gatekeepers who sometimes draw these limits.”Kabir shared that he had a discussion about a particular scene with the Censor Board. In that scene, which is set in Pakistan, the character played by Om Puri says goodbye to Salman’s Bajrangi, but the latter hesitates to say ‘Khuda Hafiz.’ The late actor’s character then asks, “Aap logo me kya kehte hai? Jai Shri Ram, na?” Without giving a thought, Om Puri’s character says, “Jai Shri Ram.”Khan added that the board asked him to cut the scene. He revealed, “I asked why and they said that Muslims won’t like it,” adding, “Sir, what’s my name? I don’t mind it at all.”The filmmaker further shared that he fought for it and “stuck to it.” Kabir Khan added that when he watched “blue-collar Muslim workers” cheering in the audience after watching the film, he felt good.
More about ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’
The film was released on July 17, 2015. Co-starring Kareena Kapoor and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the film went on to become a blockbuster.
