Ahead of its theatrical release on June 26, Ahmed Khan’s comedy entertainer ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ has received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). However, the film was only removed after a series of edits and changes were implemented. The board reportedly proposed 18 changes, ranging from dialogue changes to the removal of certain visuals and references.The latest installment of the popular ‘Welcome’ franchise has been certified with a UA 16+ rating and is set to hit theaters with a runtime of 2 hours and 44 minutes.
CBFC gives UA 16+ certificate
According to Hindustan Times, the certification for ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ was issued on June 20 after implementing several changes. The official synopsis describes the film as a riotous comedy that revolves around a billionaire who creates an extraordinary scheme to fake financial losses by making a film designed to fail. To execute the plan, he assembles an unlikely team that includes a fading superstar and an incompetent directorial duo, setting the stage for a series of blunders.Directed by Ahmed Khan, the film serves as the third entry in the ‘Welcome’ franchise and promises a combination of slapstick humor, suspense and larger-than-life characters. The project is produced by Firoz Nadiadwala, Rakesh Dang and Vedant Vikaas Baali.
The dialogues were edited before release
Several film lines are reportedly undergoing changes prior to certification. A dialogue, “Kala paida hua hai…koayla hai,” was changed to “Saadah paida hua…namoona hua hai.” Another line, “Yaas karo kurbani muh me bhar lo paani,” was changed to “suno sunata hoon kahani, jo shaheed honey jaa raha tha, uske muh mien bharlo paan.”Additional changes include changes to phrases like “Desh ki tatti” and “Ejjat le lo.” Certain words and references have also been changed or deleted entirely. According to the certification details, the word “screwed” was removed from the subtitles, while “Azarudden” was replaced by “Allaudin.”The board also reportedly changed “andha” to “dheela,” while references to the “Gorkha Regiment” were replaced by the more general question, “Tum army se ho?” Similarly, the word “General” is replaced by “officer” or “sir” in relevant scenes.
Kashmir references and visual editing
Among the more notable changes was the removal of references such as “Na Diya” and “Panni sa Kashmir.” The CBFC also ordered changes to several visuals it categorized as “sensual.”According to the reported list of edits, scenes with bikini shots, close-ups of women’s waists and some dance moves were cut or deleted. Some ranges include: Disha Patani and: Jacqueline Fernandez It was reportedly changed, while some hand gestures deemed inappropriate were replaced with alternative reaction shots featuring Vindu Dara Singh. The average duration of these visual deletions is said to be approximately 10 seconds.
More about ‘Welcome to the Jungle’
‘Welcome to the Jungle’ boasts one of the largest ensemble casts seen in a Hindi film in recent years. Comedy stars: Akshay KumarSuniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Jackie Shroff and Paresh Rawal in important roles.The screenplay was written by Neeraj Vora, whose work on the earlier films helped shape the franchise’s signature comic tone. With the certification now complete and the censorship process behind it, the film is set to hit theaters on June 26, hoping to continue the legacy of the highly successful ‘Welcome’ series.