CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani opens up about Befikre's UA certificate!

In a shocking decision, Aditya Chopra's 'Befikre' was passed with a UA certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification. Considering CBFC's stringent policy, the passing of the 40 kisses in the movie was a definite surprise!

In an interview with The Quint, on being prodded about the UA certificate, CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani said, "Firstly, there is a difference in the intention and purpose of the kisses in Befikre and the ones you mention in the earlier films(Tamasha, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil). Those earlier kisses were very intimate and sexual in nature and also shot in lingering close-ups . In Befikre the kisses are used as signs of affection warmth and kinship. And they are not shot in close-ups. That makes a helluva difference in terms of impact."

Talking about the global appeal of the film, Nihalani further explained, “I feel Befikre reflects a global attitude to public affection. Aditya Chopra has made a film that will appeal to young people all across the world regardless of creed, class, culture, colour and race. In that sense, Befikre is not reflective of Indian values per se . It’s not a mirror of the Indian middle-class sanskaar. It’s more about how the young, even young Indians, behave when they are abroad and are brought up with different values.”

Nihalani further explained the cultural difference between India and Paris, and concluded saying, “See, in India kissing in public is still taboo. But in Paris it’s openly done. It’s an accepted form of affection not just for couples in love but also a form of greeting between two friends when they meet. We can’t apply our own cultural rules to people outside.”