PHOTOS: From The Kashmir Files to Neerja, films that were banned in other countries
Despite having a mass following for Bollywood films globally, many of them have not made it to certain markets due to different reasons.
Here are 11 such movies that have been censored or banned in other countries:
1/11
The Kashmir Files.
The film, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, about the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley, though praised in India, was not cleared for screenings in Singapore. Singapore's censor board has restricted the film from releasing in their theatres, citing its ‘provoking and biased depiction of Muslims’.
2/11
Bell Bottom
Bell Bottom, starring Akshay Kumar, was based on real-life airline hijackings that occurred in the 1980s. The film was released globally except in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, where it was banned for alleged manipulation of facts about the historical events.
3/11
Kurup
Dulquer Salmaan, Sobhita Dhulipala, and even Manoj Bajpayee feature in the Malayalam murder thriller, Kurup. Though it opened to positive reviews in India and many other countries, it was banned in Kuwait because it depicted a fugitive attempting to escape the Indian police and searching for refuge in Kuwait.
4/11
Pad Man
Pad Man had great intentions and a message. Its efforts to raise awareness about menstruation and menstrual hygiene were well accepted by fans and critics alike. Unexpectedly, the movie was forbidden in Kuwait and Pakistan due to its portrayal of menstrual issues, which is still a taboo in many societies.
5/11
Neerja
Sonam Kapoor portrayed the role of real-life pilot Neerja Bhanot who saved numerous lives by risking her own during a hijack. Neerja has received numerous appreciation throughout the country. The film was, however, prohibited in Pakistan for supposedly portraying the country in a demeaning way. In other countries, the film was a success.
6/11
Baby
Akshay Kumar and Taapsee Pannu played compelling roles in the spy thriller, Baby. For allegedly depicting Muslims in an unpleasant way, the film was prohibited from an international release in Pakistan.
7/11
Raanjhanaa
Numerous people enjoyed watching the love stories of Kundan, Zoya, and Akram in the film, Raanjhanaa. Dhanush, Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol and Swara Bhaskar played pivotal roles in the movie. The film was, however, banned in Pakistan due to its controversial content.
8/11
Padmavaat
Padmaavat has been a big matter of discussion as it spawned several controversies. The film had to deal with everything from a name change to violent threats to the actors. Despite its commercial success, the film was banned in Malaysia, citing concerns over Islamic sentiments.
9/11
OMG: Oh My God!
Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal play the lead roles in the comedy drama movie. A film that tackled a topic like religion was certain to get sunken in controversy. Despite its success in India, the film was banned in the UAE allegedly due to its excessive depiction of a religion.
10/11
The Dirty Picture
Silk Smitha was one of Vidya Balan's most outstanding performances. Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tushar Kapoor also played important roles in the biopic film. The movie ended up becoming a huge success commercially. The film was released in theatres globally except in Qatar.
11/11
Fiza
Fiza is one of the earlier movies of Hrithik Roshan where he plays the role of the brother of Fiza, played by Karisma Kapoor, who was lost during the Bombay riots. Jaya Bachchan plays the role of their mother. The movie Fiza was banned in Malaysia due to its portrayal of a Muslim protagonist during the 1992 Bombay riots. However, despite the ban, the films' success was unaffected.