Agnihotri Saved Omerta: CBFC Fighter Revealed

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta recently recounted an unexpected intervention by Vivek Agnihotri during the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) review of Mehta's 2017 film, Omerta. Agnihotri, who was then part of the CBFC's revising committee, played a crucial role in limiting the controversial biopic's edits to a mere two scenes.

The film, which focuses on the life of terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh, faced intense scrutiny for its graphic content. A particularly contentious deleted scene depicted the terrorist urinating during the Indian National Anthem while in jail, an act deemed highly offensive and against national sentiment.

Mehta explained that despite the CBFC's initial strong objections and demands for numerous cuts, Agnihotri actively advocated for the film. Agnihotri's support on the revising committee was instrumental in preventing more extensive censorship, ultimately allowing the film to be released with minimal alterations.