Former CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani claimed that Pathaan was "a victim of controversy." Following the release of the Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan song "Besharam Rang," Pathaan has been in the news and is the target of boycott calls. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) instructed the filmmakers to make "changes" to the movie. The changes sought includes alterations to the songs. Pahlaj states that the ministry may have put pressure on CBFC to accept the call.
Padmaavat and Bajrangi Bhaijaan also faced boycott calls before their releases, Pahlaj said. Pahlaj further mentioned that the CBFC received a letter from the ministry before the films' distribution. The reason given was "because of the law-and-order scenario." Pahlaj served as the CBFC chairman from 2015 to 2017.
Speaking about Shah Rukh's upcoming film Pathaan, Pahlaj told a publication, "There’s no guideline that states that a color can be cut. You can suggest changes if there’s vulgarity or obscenity. But if they ask for cuts because of color, it would be a wrong proceeding. There could be pressure from the ministry... Pathaan is a victim of controversy. The CBFC must have got pressurized by the ministry to delete this portion of saffron color. Otherwise, they had cleared the costume and the shot in the trailer."
He further said, "It is the committee’s right to decide what cuts and modifications are needed. They will have to see the revised version. Prasoon Joshi might have given a statement. But he has no right to watch Pathaan with the examining committee. He must have got pressure from the ministry to see the film carefully because of the saffron color. If they suggest a cut because of color then it would be a wrong proceeding."
According to board norms, the CBFC requested a reworked version of the film. It asked for revisions from Pathaan's producer Yash Raj Films on Thursday. This is according to a statement from chairperson Prasoon Joshi. Some individuals have criticized a scene in the Besharam Rang song. In the song, Deepika Padukone is seen dancing on the beach with Shah Rukh while wearing an orange bathing suit.
"I must reiterate that our culture and faith are glorious, intricate, and nuanced. And we have to be careful that it does not get defined by trivia which takes the focus away from the real and the true. And like I have said earlier as well, the trust between creators and audience is most important to protect. and the creators should keep working towards it,” Prasoon stated.
