Akshay Kumar starrer, 'Welcome to the Jungle' receives CBFC clearance after 18 changes; Disha Patani and Jacqueline Fernandez scenes affected

Ahead of its theatrical release on June 26, Ahmed Khan's comedy entertainer 'Welcome to the Jungle' has received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

However, the film was cleared only after a series of edits and modifications were implemented. The board reportedly suggested 18 changes, ranging from dialogue alterations to the removal of certain visuals and references.The latest instalment in the popular 'Welcome' franchise has now been certified with a UA 16+ rating and is set to arrive in cinemas with a runtime of 2 hours and 44 minutes.

CBFC grants UA 16+ certificate

According to Hindustan Times, the certification for 'Welcome to the Jungle' was issued on June 20 following the implementation of multiple revisions.

The official synopsis describes the film as a chaotic comedy revolving around a billionaire who devises an unusual scheme to fake financial losses by producing a movie designed to fail. To execute the plan, he gathers an unlikely team that includes a fading superstar and an incompetent director duo, setting the stage for a series of misadventures.Directed by Ahmed Khan, the film serves as the third entry in the 'Welcome' franchise and promises a blend of slapstick humour, confusion and larger-than-life characters.

The project has been produced by Firoz Nadiadwala, Rakesh Dang and Vedant Vikaas Baali.

Dialogues modified before release

Several lines in the film reportedly underwent revisions before certification. One dialogue, “Kala paida hua hai…koayla hai,” was replaced with “Saadah paida hua…namoona hua hai.” Another line, “Yaas karo kurbani muh me bhar lo paani,” was modified to “suno sunata hoon kahani, jo shaheed honey jaa raha tha, uske muh mien bharlo paan.”Additional changes included alterations to phrases such as “Desh ki tatti” and “Ejjat le lo.” Certain words and references were also either modified or removed completely. According to the certification details, the word “screwed” was deleted from the subtitles, while “Azarudden” was replaced with “Allaudin.”

The board also reportedly changed “andha” to “dheela,” while references to the “Gorkha Regiment” were replaced with the more generic question, “Tum army se ho?” Similarly, the word “General” was substituted with “officer” or “sir” in relevant scenes.

Kashmir references and visual edits

Among the more notable modifications were the removal of references such as “Na Diya” and “Panni of Kashmir.” The CBFC also instructed changes to a number of visuals it categorised as “sensual.”According to the reported list of edits, scenes featuring bikini shots, close-up visuals of women's hips and certain dance movements were either trimmed or removed. Some sequences involving Disha Patani and Jacqueline Fernandez were reportedly altered, while a few hand gestures deemed inappropriate were replaced with alternative reaction shots featuring Vindu Dara Singh.

The cumulative duration of these visual deletions is said to be approximately 10 seconds.

More about 'Welcome to the Jungle'

'Welcome to the Jungle' boasts one of the largest ensemble casts seen in a Hindi film in recent years. The comedy stars Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Jackie Shroff and Paresh Rawal in key roles.The screenplay has been written by Neeraj Vora, whose work on the earlier films helped shape the franchise's signature comic tone. With certification now complete and the censor process behind it, the film is set to arrive in theatres on June 26, hoping to continue the legacy of the hugely successful 'Welcome' series.