Alcohol warning not to apply to all films, says CBFC chief

“Shah Rukh Khan was keen on a ‘U’ certificate for this film. Since there was a drinking scene, he voluntarily accepted to put the ticker warning,” Samson said.

A source from Red Chillies Entertainments, not willing to be named, accepted the CBFC chairperson’s claim, saying: “We have very happily included the warning in the film.”

The statutory warnings had triggered a furore among film personalities, with speculations that the ‘rule’ will now apply to all films.

This, at a time when the industry is protesting the existing mandatory warning that pops up when characters are shown smoking.

Samson, however, said it was not a ‘rule’, but “a warning for children”.

“This does not amount to any new diktat on part of the government or the CBFC. This will not apply to all films,” she explained.

However, CBFC’s new Regional Officer for Mumbai Rahul Vaidya’s suggestion to show the ticker has set off speculation. Two 2014 releases, Yaariyan and Kick, have scenes showing alcohol consumption, but both were cleared with a ‘U’ certificate.

In fact, never before in Hindi films has a message against drinking been included. Guests sipping from glasses was a common sight in films from the ‘60s and ‘70s. And who can forget Keshto Mukerjee, rarely seen playing sober characters, the inebriated Veeru (Dharmendra) in Sholay or the alcoholic protagonist played by Amitabh Bachchan in Sharaabi. Both Sharaabi and Sholay, ironically, have a ‘U’ certificate.

On being pointed out such points, Samson said, “You are talking about different times and different panels. Like everything in this country, variance is the name of reality.”

She added that the media unnecessarily criticised the recent move. “Vaidya thought it would be right to carry the warning, it was supported by the panel as well as Khan. Khan had the option of refusing and writing to me. But time is of the essence, so I can understand his haste,” she added.