Director Shazia Iqbal’s upcoming film Dhadak 2 has finally received a U/A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)—but not without major changes. The CBFC asked the filmmakers to make 16 edits, including altering politically sensitive dialogues and removing caste-related terms.
Censor Board Demanded 11 Major Changes
According to The Hindu, the film underwent 11 significant changes before it was cleared for release. Here’s a breakdown of what was modified:
Political Dialogue Tweaked
Original: “3,000 years of backlog can’t be covered in 70 years.”
New: “Such a big backlog can’t be covered in just 70 years.”
(This dialogue was also changed in the film Phule recently.)
Reference to Kanshi Ram Rewritten
Original: A line referencing Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram.
New: Replaced with a metaphorical line: “This small cap is just a part of the whole pen, and we are the rest.”
Caste-Specific Terms Removed
All caste-indicative words have been muted and replaced with neutral terms like “wild”.
Religious Dialogue Softened
Original: “This is a religious act.”
New: Changed to “This is a virtuous act.”
Caste Injustice Dialogue Modified
Original: “Upper caste roads… they used to burn us…”
New: Changed to “Neither the roads nor the land belonged to us…”
Scene of Violence Against Woman Censored
A violent scene involving a woman has now been turned into a black screen.
Poetic Reference Blocked
The recital of the poem “Thakur ka kuan” has been censored.
Song on Tulsidas’ Couplets Altered
A song based on saint Tulsidas’ couplets was also modified.
Disclaimer Extended
A 20-second disclaimer at the beginning has now been stretched to 1 minute and 51 seconds, with the instruction that it should be read aloud.
Three Visual Cuts Added
A disturbing scene showing a character urinating on Nilesh has been removed.
Another scene where Nilesh’s father is insulted has been shortened.
Dhadak 2: Siddhant and Triptii Lead the Cast
Dhadak 2 stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri in the lead roles. The story revolves around Nilesh and Vidisha, two lovers from different castes. The film explores whether love can overcome the social and caste barriers that divide them.
The film, directed by Shazia Iqbal, promises to shed light on inter-caste relationships and the struggles they bring in contemporary India.