Akshay Kumar’s comedy film “Khel Khel Mein” has sparked controversy in the UAE, where local authorities have reportedly imposed heavy censorship on the film. Fans have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction over the cutting of important parts of the film, including a crucial scene featuring Fardeen Khan’s character.
The film has garnered praise for its progressive storyline, especially the character story that explores Fardeen’s sexuality, but faced unexpected setbacks in the UAE. This led fans to take to their handles to share how heavy-handed censorship has changed the essence of the film. One fan expressed their disappointment to Mid-Day, saying, “I was looking forward to this film as it has a progressive storyline. We should see more of these stories and not more of them.”
Another fan in Dubai expressed his frustration at how censorship had changed Fardeen’s character’s story: “It’s a shame that such an important moment has been erased. When I found out about this from an Indian movie fan I felt cheated. Censorship like this prevents audiences from fully experiencing the powerful message of the film,” the fan lamented.
According to reports, it’s not just Khan’s sexual imagery that has been removed, but also some important scenes that contribute to the overall story. Surprisingly, even some relatively important lines were cut from the film.
When asked about the censorship, director Mudassar Aziz expressed his disappointment: “It is heartbreaking that such a relevant and extremely dignified film has been released for screening in the UAE, but I am thrilled with the applause. [the rest] “People from all over the world came to me for that exact scene,” he said.
Fardeen Khan also weighed in on the controversy, emphasising the importance of the message his character was trying to convey: “It may have been edited but the intention behind the character – the intention of acceptance – has not changed and I believe in the importance of the message,” he asserted.
“Khel Khel Mein” tells the story of seven friends whose secrets are revealed during a game night.
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