Mudassar Aziz has expressed his dismay over the censorship of his latest directorial venture, Khel Khel Mein, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The film, which marks Fardeen Khan's return to the big screen after a 14-year hiatus, has seen crucial segments edited out by the UAE Media Regulatory Office, leaving the filmmaker disappointed.
Censorship Alters Fardeen Khan’s Character Arc One of the most significant cuts in Khel Khel Mein involves a key sequence in the climax, which is central to Fardeen Khan’s character development. The scene, which delves into the character’s sexuality, has been removed under local restrictions. This censorship has drastically altered the narrative for audiences in the UAE.
A report by Mid-Day quoted a fan from Dubai, “This edit changes the narrative of Fardeen’s character. It’s disheartening to see such an important moment erased. I felt cheated when I found out from Indian cine-goers about this. Censorship like this denies audiences the full experience of the film’s powerful message.”
Another dialogue that was scissored reads, “Meri 10 saal ki beti ki soch aapki soch se behtar hai.” This line, which resonates with the film’s themes of progressive thinking and societal change, was also deemed inappropriate for the UAE audience. Mudassar Aziz’s Response to the Censorship Mudassar Aziz, while acknowledging the disappointment, focused on the broader impact of the film. “I’m a filmmaker. To write all sorts of characters and raise topics of conversation is my professional and moral duty! Khel Khel Mein does that. While it’s heartbreaking to see that something so relevant, and done with so much dignity, found its way out of the UAE release, I’m thrilled at the applause that [the rest] of the world is sending my way for those very scenes,” Aziz told Mid-Day. Fardeen Khan Stands by the Film’s Message Fardeen Khan also weighed in on the situation. “Through this role, I hoped to contribute to a conversation that is necessary and relevant. While edits may have been made, the intention behind the role—that of acceptance—remains unchanged, and I stand by the message’s importance,” he said.
Speaking of the film, besides Fardeen, it also stars Akshay Kumar, Vaani Kapoor, Ammy Virk, and Taapsee Pannu, among others. It was released on August 15 with Vedaa and Stree 2.
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