The year 2025 presented a stark paradox for the Hindi film industry. On one hand, it celebrated monumental commercial victories with blockbusters like Dhurandhar, Chhaava, and Saiyaara. On the other, it navigated one of its most challenging and restrictive creative environments in recent history. The industry witnessed films being stalled, heavily edited, delayed indefinitely, denied domestic releases, and in one extraordinary case, altered even after being screened in theatres.
CBFC Under Fire: Caste, History, and Political Narratives
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) found itself embroiled in multiple high-profile disputes. Films tackling sensitive social and historical themes faced intense scrutiny. Dhadak 2 and Phule, both exploring caste-based realities, reportedly went through several rounds of review before receiving clearance. Insiders revealed that objections went beyond dialogue or scenes to include the films' core themes and political interpretations.
The situation escalated with Santosh, a film selected as the UK's official Oscar entry. It was initially denied a censor certificate. When the makers opted for a direct OTT release, which doesn't require CBFC approval, that plan too was halted at the last minute.
The most severe clash involved Panjab '95. Directed by Honey Trehan and starring Diljit Dosanjh as activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, the film was originally set for a February 7 release before being shelved. Trehan later publicly alleged the CBFC demanded a staggering 127 cuts, accusing the board of trying to suppress a difficult historical narrative about enforced disappearances in 1990s Punjab.
Unprecedented Moves: Post-Release Cuts and Geopolitical Bans
In a rare incident, censorship extended into theatres for L2: Empuraan, the Mohanlal-starring sequel to Lucifer. After right-wing groups protested its religious themes and alleged references to the 2002 Gujarat riots, the makers implemented 24 "voluntary cuts" totaling 2.08 minutes. A re-censor certificate was issued mid-run. Key changes included renaming the antagonist from Balraj (Baba Bajrangi) to Baldev and altering an on-screen text from "India 2002" to "a few years ago."
Religious sensitivities also forced a swift retraction for Jaat, starring Randeep Hooda. A sequence showing Hooda in a crucifixion-like pose inside a church sparked immediate backlash from Christian groups and an FIR. The filmmakers removed the scene entirely.
Geopolitics directly impacted releases. Sardaar Ji 3, featuring Diljit Dosanjh and Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, was denied an India release amid tense India-Pakistan relations following Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam attack. Similarly, Aabeer Gulaal, starring Vaani Kapoor and Fawad Khan, was postponed indefinitely due to the diplomatic climate.
A Year of Uncertainty and Silenced Stories
From pre-release interventions and post-theatre edits to geopolitically motivated bans, 2025 highlighted the growing pressures on cinematic expression in India. The tension between creative freedom, institutional authority, and national sentiment became a defining pattern. As Bollywood aims for global reach while being deeply rooted in a complex domestic landscape, the events of 2025 pose critical questions about the future of storytelling in the world's largest democracy. The year may ultimately be remembered not just for the stories Bollywood told, but for the ones it was compelled to silence, stall, or cut.
