Nawazuddin, Bidita slam Censor Board

Their film Babumoshai Bandookbaaz has run into trouble with the Censor Board, what with the film being asked to make 48 cuts despite being certified as ‘A’ (Adults Only). Both the lead actors, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Bidita Bag, were visibly upset with the directive. When we caught up with the two in Bengaluru, both voiced their opinions quite vehemently. Nawaz said, “I agree that you can certify a film as U, U/A or A.But, I fail to understand the logic behind people demanding cuts after certifying an A. The film doesn’t even have the kind of boldness that one reads daily on the internet. So, I’d say you'd rather ban that first. With the kind of content available on a mobile phone today, I don’t think any kind of censorship holds good.”
Bidita says, “The Censor Board is behaving like old grandpas and grannys, trying to control everything. More than 70% of our population are adults, so it is not really right on their part to dictate what one will watch and what one won’t. We are a democracy, don’t take away people’s rights. If a film is not good, people won’t watch it anyway. Let the people decide what they find appropriate or not, once you certify something as ‘Adults only’.”
Bidita's Bengalurean friend is Anushka Sharma
Bidita Bag spoke about her love for Bengaluru saying, “I have had many Bengalurean friends, especially from my modelling days. Anushka Sharma was one of my friends from here. She introduced me to a modelling agency back then and it was because of her that I was also shortlisted for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. It was another thing that my Hindi was bad then. But, I am really glad that she has made it this big.” Talking about her love for Bengaluru she says, “The people here are fashionable, educated and intelligent. The city is my dream city because of its weather. I love the filter coffee and pork curry here too.”
Nawaz’s take on the nepotism row
Nawazuddin Siddiqui also addressed the ongoing nepotism issue saying, “I am an outsider and I have made my space in the industry. I disagree that there is nepotism. A lot of good actors have found their space. One might be from a film family or have connections, but eventually it is talent that defines how long one sustains.”