HIT 3: Heavy Cuts After A Certificate; Seriously?

Nani’s upcoming action thriller HIT: The Third Case may have earned an ‘A’ certificate from the CBFC, but that didn’t stop the scissors from coming out.

Despite being cleared for adult audiences, the film was slapped with seven major cuts.

From muted profanity to trimmed violence and softened scenes involving child abuse and politically sensitive content—nothing was spared. Even a “uniform burning” sequence had to be toned down.

Yes, HIT 3 got heavily censored even after getting an adult rating. Seriously.

The final runtime clocks in at 157 minutes, with no scenes fully removed, but several edits forced. Words like “f#ck,” “deng#i,” and “ch#tiya” were muted.

A throat-slitting scene was trimmed for excessive gore. Even the portrayal of child abuse was dialed back.

These changes were made during a proactive censor screening held at Prasad Labs in Hyderabad—three weeks ahead of release, with Nani himself reportedly present.

Unlike its previous parts, HIT 3 leans into the “how it was done” angle more than the “who did it.” Nani plays Arjun Sarkaar, a HIT officer unraveling gruesome crimes in Jammu and Kashmir.

The CBFC’s decision has once again reignited the debate around artistic freedom, with HIT 3 joining a growing list of adult-certified films still facing censorship.