Pahlaj Nihalani asks for 1 lakh votes to clear the word ‘intercourse’ in Jab Harry Met Sejal 

The chief of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Pahlaj Nihalani, has taken everyone by surprise by putting a condition on passing the word ‘intercourse’ in the trailer of Imtiaz Ali’s Jab Harry Met Sejal. He has challenged Shah Rukh Khan’s fans to vote in favour of clearing the word. If this happens, he will allow the word to be used not only in the trailer but also the movie. 

Talking to a television news channel, he said, “You take voting from the public and I will clear the word (intercourse) on the promo and the film also. I want 1 lakh votes and I want to see that India has changed and Indian families want their 12-year-old kids to understand the meaning of this word (intercourse).”

Earlier in the week, the CBFC ordered the makers to remove the word ‘intercourse’ from the promo of Jab Harry Met Sejal in order for it to be considered fit for TV. In fact, even after the removal of the word, they would grant a U/A certificate to it instead of U. 

Speaking to a daily, Nihalani had said, “They’re yet to come back to us on that. So in principle, the trailer has not been passed yet. They’ve uploaded the uncut trailer on YouTube. The CBFC cannot stop content on the internet. But we can and will stop the broadcast of the uncensored footage on television.” 

Such challenge is unheard and one of its kind. It will be interesting to see whether SRK’s fans actually go ahead and take on the challenge thrown by Nihalani.