Censors slam down on Johnny Lever's character in Entertainment

6 Aug 2014

Anything for a laugh? No more, it seems. When it comes to religious sentiments, the Narendra Modi government has communicated very strict guidelines to the Censor Board.

No improper jokes on proper names, no matter which religious community, the name may belong to.

One of the first films to get an axe under the strict terms of Modi-fications is Akshay Kumar's comedy film Entertainment. The character played by Johnny Lever is named Abdullah in the film. The CBFC (the Censor Board Of Film Certification) which viewed the film late last week has asked for Johnny Lever's character's name to be changed.

Says a source, "Lever's character is named Abdullah which is a very sacred name. Throughout the film other characters keep mispronouncing Abdullah's name, calling him all sorts of things like 'rashogollah' and 'mashallah'. The CBFC has asked the film's producers and co-directors Sajid-Farhad to change Johnny Lever's name to avoid hurting anyone's sentiments." While the jokes on Johnny's name remain, he is no longer called 'Abdullah' but 'Habibullah'Apparently, Sajid-Farhad whose mom is hospitalized, had to work overnight to make the necessary change.

"It was a lot of hard work since Johnny's character is there throughout the film and the jokes on his name occur all through. But there was no option. We are going through trying times and can't afford to take risks of hurting religious sentiments. In fact the CBFC has also ordered the removal of a shot showing Akshay Kumar throwing a Trishul across the screen. The CBFC doesn't want any Hindu organization to ask why the Trishul is being used as a weapon," says the source.

Also, out by CBFC's command is the word 'HIV' used in a dialogue as a joke. The word has been muted.

"The CBFC won't allow any beeping of objectionable words and lines. But muting is allowed for now, when necessary," says the source.