Censor board wanted to cut ‘Jai Shri Ram' from Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Kabir Khan fought for it: ‘They said Muslims won't approve when a Pakistani maulana says it'

Indian Express

a day ago

Director Kabir Khan, known for films like 83, Ek Tha Tiger, Chandu Champion, among many others, graced the eighth edition of The Indian Express' Expresso. At the event, Kabir reflected on one of his most successful works, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, starring Salman Khan. In the film, Salman plays an Indian Hindu man who crosses the border to safely escort a young Muslim girl back to her home in Pakistan. On the way, his character meets many individuals who help him grow beyond his limited understanding of religion as he rises up to understand the religion of humanity. When asked whether he could make Bajrangi Bhaijaan in today's political climate, Kabir replied that while the masses generally grasp a film's nuance, those who position themselves as society's gatekeepers, such as the CBFC, can sometimes create obstacles by anticipating problems that may never arise. Kabir recalled a scene featuring Om Puri, in which a Pakistani maulana says 'Jai Shri Ram.' He shared that the CBFC asked him to remove the dialogue, fearing it might offend Muslims.
Kabir shared that he believed that he could still make the film and said, 'If the film still gets love, then it means that somewhere it hit home. I feel it's the gatekeepers who sometimes draw these limits.' He then recalled his conversation with the censor board and shared that in a particular scene, which is set in Pakistan, Om Puri's character waves goodbye to Salman's character and he can sense that Bajrangi is hesitant in saying 'Khuda Hafiz'. He then asks the other character, 'Aap logo mein kya kehte hain? Jai Shri Ram na? (What do you guys say? Jai Shri Ram?)'
'And Om Puri's character, without batting an eyelid, says 'Jai Shri Ram' and the censor actually asked me to cut that. I asked why and they said that Muslims won't like it,' he recalled. Kabir then told them that he too was a Muslim and he did not mind it. 'I said 'Sir, what's my name? I don't mind it at all,' he shared.
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Kabir Khan recalled growing up in Delhi where, at one point, 'Jai Shri Ram' was used to greet others and wasn't particularly used to make a political statement. 'I have grown up in a Delhi where 'Jai Shri Ram' was not a political salutation. It was used by everybody and I have been in Old Delhi where 'Jai Shri Ram' was like saying 'hello' and 'goodbye', so I asked why would they feel bad about this? I fought for it. I stuck to it,' he said.
Kabir recalled watching the opening day show of Bajrangi Bhaijaan on the day of Eid where a lot of 'blue collar Muslim workers' were in the audience, and they cheered for this exact scene when it played in the theatre. 'I get gooseflesh thinking of it now. and the censors though they will not like it. I feel you have to stick to what you believe in and at the end of the day, it's goodness, why won't people like it? As I said, sometimes, the gatekeepers come in and stop that but the people don't. People loved that, people loved whatever we were showing in that film, the politics behind it,' he said.
The eighth edition of Expresso was presented by HSBC in association with Taj Lands End, Mumbai, Seetu Kohli Homes as the Luxury Partner, Chambers of Kartik Seth as the Knowledge Partner, and Radico as the Celebration Partner.