Akshay Kumar's Bhooth Bangla: Censorship Challenges and Final Runtime Revealed

Akshay Kumar's upcoming horror-comedy, Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan, has successfully passed through the censorship process, albeit with several mandated changes. The film received a U/A 16+ certificate from the CBFC, which required the filmmakers to address multiple concerns, including language and content appropriateness. After making the necessary edits, including trimming over 10 minutes from the runtime, Bhooth Bangla is set for release on April 17, 2026. This article delves into the specific changes requested by the CBFC and the film's final runtime.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 13, 2026, 17:12 IST

Censorship Journey of Bhooth Bangla

Akshay Kumar's forthcoming horror-comedy film, Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan, has successfully navigated the censorship process, albeit with some challenges. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has issued a U/A 16+ rating, indicating that viewers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Prior to granting this certificate, the CBFC's Examining Committee raised several concerns regarding the film and mandated specific alterations. The filmmakers complied and received their certificate on April 2, later opting to make further cuts that reduced the film's total runtime by over 10 minutes.

Changes Required by CBFC for Bhooth Bangla

The CBFC identified multiple issues before approving the film for release. As reported by Bollywood Hungama, the board objected to an inappropriate word used around the 26-minute mark, which needed to be substituted. Additionally, another set of offensive words appearing approximately an hour into the film was also flagged for modification. Towards the film's conclusion, an inappropriate term in the subtitles was mandated to be removed entirely. Furthermore, the board expressed concerns regarding a derogatory reference to women in the first half of the film, requesting a more suitable replacement. The CBFC also instructed the filmmakers to include clear disclaimers for all religious and superstitious content featured in the film.

Once the filmmakers addressed all these concerns to the satisfaction of the CBFC, the censor certificate was officially issued on April 2, allowing the film to proceed with its theatrical release.

Final Runtime and Certification of Bhooth Bangla

After obtaining the certificate, the filmmakers returned to the CBFC shortly after with additional voluntary cuts. The CBFC approved these changes on April 11. In total, 63 scenes were trimmed from the film, with most cuts being minor. The most significant cut was a 72-second removal from a scene in the song 'O Sundari,' which was entirely deleted. An additional 27 seconds were cut from the song 'O Re O Sawariya.' These two songs contributed significantly to the overall runtime reduction. Collectively, the cuts resulted in a total runtime decrease of 10 minutes and 5 seconds. The final runtime of Bhooth Bangla is now 164.52 minutes, equating to 2 hours, 44 minutes, and 52 seconds. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on April 17, 2026.