National Award winning filmmaker Srijit Mukherji and producer Mahesh Bhatt emphasised that the Central Board of Film Certification 'pleasantly surprised' them by allowing to retain certain cuss words in their film, Begum Jaan.
Starring Vidya Balan, Begum Jaan is a remake of the National Award-winning Bengali film, Rajkahini. Balan plays the madam or head of a brothel in the film. Mukherji said that the board allowed several words that were strictly against the policy of the film certification as they were necessary for the 'context' of the film.
Vidya Balan looks intense as brothel head in Begum Jaan first look
He said, "In fact, they had gone against the code for various words and they allowed them. They said the film has forced us to contextualise those words which otherwise would have been a strict no-no."
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, the filmmaker agreed to certain words being cleared as they were against the rules.
The director added that it was a 'reasonable act' on the board's part. Begum Jaan's story is set in the backdrop of India's partition. The film also stars Pallavi Sharda, Gauhar Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Rajit Kapoor and Ashish Vidyarthi among others.
Begum Jaan is scheduled for theatrical release on 14 April.