This Diwali weekend, Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat are battling at the box office and also with the censor board. Both films have undergone several cuts before getting clearance from the CBFC.
The CBFC passed Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat with an ‘A’ certificate and Thamma with a ‘U/A’ rating. Thamma faced five major changes. The word “Alexander” was replaced with “Sikander,” and “Ashwathama” was muted. The kissing scene between Rashmika Mandanna and Ayushmann Khurrana was shortened by 30%. An anti-smoking message was added midway through the film. The sound during the blood-sucking scene was toned down, and the dialogue “Azadi dunga” became “Ayyashi karta hoon.”
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat faced six changes. A 2-minute 12-second shot was modified, though details weren’t revealed. A one-second shot of the Mantralaya building was removed, and the dialogue “Sleep with her” was deleted. In two scenes, “Raavan” was replaced with “Villain,” and all Ramayana references were removed. The word “Maal” was also changed to “Ladki.”
After these changes, both films were cleared for release. However, fans have started questioning the CBFC’s strict approach, calling it a creative roadblock for filmmakers. They argue that films freely include multiple item numbers but treat kissing scenes as controversial.
Still, excitement remains high. For the first time in 22 years, an ‘A’-rated film will release on Diwali. With Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat promising a fresh vampire romance, fans are eager to see if both films justify the hype after their long censor battles.
