CBFC Asks Sitaare Zameen Par Makers Asked To Replace 'Michael Jackson' With 'Lovebirds', Add PM Modi's Quote In Film

After much hype, Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par is set to release in theatres on July 20, Friday. The film recently obtained the certification from the Censor Board after some back and forth, and as per reports, the CBFC asked the makers to change several terms and references in the film.

The CBFC reportedly asked the makers of Sitaare Zameen Par to change a reference to pop icon Michael Jackson to the word 'Lovebirds'. Not just that, but it also asked them to replace 'Businesswoman' with a more gender neutral term -- 'Businessperson'.

The Censor Board also instructed the makers to add a quote by Prime Minister Narendra Modi right in the beginning of the film, even before the disclaimer. It also did not allow the makers to use a visual which had the word 'Kamal' written in it, stating that it might be politically sensitive.

The changes and modifications came days after reports stated that Aamir was not happy with the Censor Board's demands and that he was supposed to hold a meeting with them regarding the same.

Sitaare Zameen Par has now been granted a U/A 13+ certificate, and the official runtime of the film is 2 hours 38 minutes.

Directed by RS Prasanna, Sitaare Zameen Par is a spiritual sequel to Aamir's blockbuster Taare Zameen Par, and it is adapted from the Spanish film, Campeones. The film will mark Aamir's return to the theatres after three years, his last film being his passion project, Laal Singh Chaddha, which tanked miserably at the box office.

Sitaare Zameen Par also stars Genelia D'Souza and it will release in theatres on July 20. Aamir has decided to not release the film on OTT, despite several lucrative offers made to him by all OTT giants.