‘Fighter’ to ‘The Dirty Picture’: Indian films that faced bans in Gulf countries

Hrithik Roshan’s recently released aerial action flick ‘Fighter’ faced a setback as its release was banned in all the Gulf countries. The movie was banned in the Gulf citing objectionable content. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone in the lead, Siddharth Anand’s directorial received good reviews from the audiences and did good business at the box office.

Released in 2011, 'The Dirty Picture,' a biographical musical drama inspired by the life of Silk Smitha, faced a ban in Kuwait due to its explicit content. The film's daring scenes stirred controversy, leading to its exclusion from screening in the Gulf nation. Starring Vidya Balan in the lead, ‘The Dirty Picture’ turned out to be a blockbuster hit.

Vivek Agnihotri's controversial film 'The Kashmir Files' encountered bans in the Gulf region, with Kuwait choosing not to release the film initially. The UAE eventually lifted its ban weeks after the movie's release, highlighting the divisive nature of its narrative. The movie received several praises from audiences and critics amidst controversies.

The action-packed 'Tiger 3' faced bans in Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, with concerns raised over the portrayal of Muslims in a negative light. This ban adds the film to the list of Indian releases undergoing scrutiny in the Middle East, sparking discussions about cultural sensitivity in storytelling. Even though the movie received mixed responses, ‘Tiger 3’ did good business at the box office.

Akshay Kumar starrer 'Bell Bottom' encountered bans in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. The film allegedly tampered with historical facts, especially in the second half, where the storyline depicts hijackers diverting the aircraft from Lahore to Dubai. The bans raised questions about the responsibility of filmmakers when handling historical narratives. The Akshay Kumar starrer unfortunately flopped at the box office with mixed reviews.