The troubles just don't seem to end for Karan Johar. Even as he enjoys the decent run of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil at the box office, reports have emerged that the Central Board of Film Certification's plan to ask him to mute a dialogue allegedly insulting the legendary singer Mohammed Rafi in the film.
The dialogue has left fans of the singer upset at Johar's apparent disregard for the great man's legacy. The growing protests have caught the CBFC's eye, and forced its hand.
After the film's release, Shahid Rafi, son of Mohammed Rafi, said, "“Mohammed Rafi gaate nahi, rote the [Mohammed Rafi used to cry, not sing]. This is so insulting. I am ashamed of Karan Johar. I didn’t expect this from him at all. My dad has sung songs for Karan’s father [Yash Johar] and this is what he has done now. I haven’t seen the film yet. Whoever has written this dialogue is an idiot. He doesn’t know who Rafi saheb was. He was the most versatile singer. How can he write such crap about a legendary singer?"
Shahid Rafi expected a written apology from Johar. The calls were backed by some other voices in the industry like Sonu Nigam and Bappi Lahiri. Nigam said, "If you can listen to the same joke about your parents, then we are wrong. If your blood boils that how can someone say something like this about my parents, then hum sahi hain beta [we feel the same way, son]."
The Deccan Chronicle newspaper quoted a source in the CBFC as saying, “It was only after the uproar that the censor board [as the CBFC is popularly known] realised they had missed the insult to Rafi saheb. Now Karan Johar may be asked to bleep the dialogue out from the film across theatres in India and abroad."
With the film already entering its second week, and on course to recover its investment, it might seem a harsh step. There has been no statement from Karan Johar or Fox Star Studios on the matter yet. For now, though, Johar continues to suffer the siege of troubles.