Censor board member Ashoke Pandit has again questioned his chief Pahlaj Nihalani for making cuts in films, this time in the upcoming Priyanka Chopra-starrer cop drama "Jai Gangaajal".
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) wanted to give the film an 'A' certificate due to a few violent and abusive scenes, but director Prakash Jha did not agree and wanted a 'UA' certificate.
Jha, in a recent interview, said he was offered a 'U/A' certificate with 11 cuts.
Pandit, himself a filmmaker, took to Twitter to criticise Nihalani.
"Sad that a filmmaker like @prakashjha27 has to face problems at #CBFC. What was #PahalajNihalani doing at the #RevisingCommitee? #JaiGangaajal," he wrote.
While Rajkumar Hirani was allowed to retain the word 'saala' in the title of his next, "Saala Khadoos", Jha said he has been asked not to use the same word in "Jai Gangaajal".
Hinting towards censor board's apparent different treatment to the two movies, Pandit said, "Why was no #CBFC #BoardMember involved in the #RevisingCommitee during the screening of #JaiGangaajal? On what basis does #CBFC chairman allow cuss words in a film & not in another? Does it depend on his relationship with d maker?#JaiGangaajal.
"Why r Board Members not on the revising committee? Is it just because we don't agree with archival thoughts of the Chairman?#JaiGangaajal #CBFC," he further posted.
Pandit added that the new committee formed by the government to revamp the censor board should begin its working as soon as possible. It is headed by eminent filmmaker Shyam Benegal.
"#ShyamBenegal ji should immediately look in to the functioning of the CBFC off & analyse how the Chairman manipulates screening of films. #JaiGangaajal."
The panel would submit its report in two months. It also includes filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey and film critic Bhawana Somaaya.
This is not the first time that Pandit has raised his voice against the censor board making cuts. He had objected to the cuts in films like "NH10", "Spectre", "Fifty Shades of Grey" and "Dum Laga Ke Haisa".
