8 Bollywood Films That Faced Ban In India Due To Bold Themes
Over the years, many Indian films, including Bollywood ones, have faced bans in the country due to their bold themes, strong messages and sensitive topics. Like many film regulatory bodies around the world, Indian films go through the scrutiny of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and they have the final say on which films can be released to the public and which cannot be.
Many Bollywood films were banned for hurting religious sentiments, showing violence, sexuality or criticising the government.
Here is a look at Bollywood films that have been banned in India:
Bandit Queen (1994)
Based on the life of the Indian dacoit Phoolan Devi, Bandit Queen is one of the most controversial films. Directed by Shekhar Kapur, the film explored the real-life story of Phoolan Devi, who rose from poverty and abuse and became a feared bandit. The film was banned for its sexually explicit content and violence.
Fire (1996)
Directed by Deepa Mehta, Fire is loosely based on Ismat Chughtai's 1942 story, Lihaaf. It was the first Bollywood film to show a homosexual relationship explicitly and to feature a lesbian couple. It explores the story of two women, Radha and Sita, as they develop emotional and physical intimacy after being neglected by their husbands. Starring Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi, the film faced backlash from conservative groups.
Urf Professor (2000)
Another film that faced troubles with the censor board was Urf Professor, directed by Pankaj Advani. The black comedy follows the story of a man whose life is turned upside down when a hitman's car and a lottery ticket go missing. The film, starring Manoj Pahwa, Antara Mali and Sharman Joshi, was banned due to its vulgar scenes and bold language.
The Pink Mirror (2003)
Sridhar Rangayan's The Pink Mirror, aka Gulaabi Aaina, was one of the first films to focus on transgender identities. It tells the story of two trans women and a gay teenager who try to seduce a man. CBFC banned the film in India, calling it vulgar and offensive.
Paanch (2003)
Another Anurag Kashyap directorial, Paanch, was said to be loosely based on the 1976–77 Joshi-Abhyankar serial murders in Pune. Featuring Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Vijay Maurya, Joy Fernandes and Tejaswini Kolhapure, the crime thriller did not release in theatres as the censor board banned it for its violence, depiction of drug abuse and usage of strong language.
Black Friday (2004)
Written and directed by Anurag Kashyap, Black Friday chronicles the events that led to the bombings in Mumbai in 1993. The film was based on the book Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts by Hussain Zaidi and featured Pawan Malhotra, Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Kishor Kadam and Zakir Hussain.
Unfreedom (2014)
The modern-day thriller explored two bold themes. One is a lesbian relationship and a plot linked to Islamic terrorism. Directed by Raj Amit Kumar, the story follows a Muslim fundamentalist who kidnaps a Muslim liberal with the intent to kill. On the other hand, a lesbian kidnaps her bisexual lover to be with them. The film stars Victor Banerjee, Adil Hussain and Preeti Gupta. The film was banned for nudity.
Angry Indian Goddesses (2015)
Pan Nalin's Angry Indian Goddesses revolves around a group of friends who reunite to celebrate the wedding of one of their own. The women began a bachelorette party in Goa, and soon got to know about each other's secrets. It is a strong commentary on patriarchy, freedom and the struggles women face in their day-to-day lives. The film was banned from release in theatres, but is available on streaming platforms after several cuts.
First Published:
August 07, 2025, 14:46 IST
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