Filmmakers Discuss Censorship and Communal Bias in Bollywood

Honey Trehan, a filmmaker, talks about the problems he faced while trying to release his film Panjab ’95.

The film, which stars Diljit Dosanjh, has been stuck with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for months.

Trehan believes the film is facing issues because it doesn't align with the current government's politics.

He compares the situation to the release of Udta Punjab, another film that faced censorship challenges but eventually got released after legal battles.

Trehan also discusses the changing landscape of the Hindi film industry, where political polarity is affecting the kind of stories that can be told.

He mentions that even A-list Muslim actors are often cast as Hindu protagonists to avoid political backlash.

Trehan emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression and the need to protect constitutional rights.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has come out in support of music composer AR Rahman amid a controversy over Rahman's remarks on declining work in Bollywood and his suggestion that it could be linked to a communal thing.

Ali believes Rahman's comments may have been misconstrued and that there is no communal bias in the film industry.