The Bombay High Court on Thursday (September 19) expressed displeasure over the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) sitting “over the fence” in issuing certification to the Kangana Ranaut-starrer “Emergency” and asked the censor board to take a decision by September 25.

Noting that creative freedom and freedom of expression cannot be curtailed, the court said that the censor board cannot refuse to certify a film just over the apprehension of law and order problems. It questioned whether the CBFC thought that people of this country are so naive to believe everything that is shown in a movie.

The HC was hearing a petition filed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises seeking direction to the CBFC to issue a certificate for the film “Emergency”.

“You (CBFC) have to take a decision one way or the other. You must have the courage to say this film cannot be released. At least then we will appreciate your courage and boldness. We don’t want the CBFC to sit on the fence,” a bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla said.

The movie was slated to release on September 6. However, the release was delayed following opposition by Sikh organisations including the Shiromani Akali Dal accusing that the movie was misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong. The HC, on September 4, refused to grant urgent relief and directed the CBFC to consider the objections by the Sikh community and then issue certification by September 18.

CBFC counsel Abhinav Chandrachud informed the bench that the board’s chairman has referred the movie to the revising committee for final decision. He added that there was an element of apprehension of public disorder.

However, Zee’s counsel, Venkatesh Dhond contended that this was done to ensure that the movie is not released before October, when the elections are to be held in Haryana.

Irked by the fact that the CBFC had failed to comply with its earlier order and simply passed the buck from one department to another, the HC said that the censor board cannot conclude that there would be a law and order problem and hence refuse to certify the movie. “This has to stop. Otherwise we are completely curtailing creative freedom and freedom of expression by doing all this… Does the CBFC think the public in this country are so naïve and stupid to believe everything they see in films? What about creative freedom?” the bench asked.

The judges wondered why people had become sensitive to what was being shown in movies. “We don’t see why people are so sensitive. My community is made fun of all the time in movies. We don’t say anything. We just laugh and move on,” Justice Colabawalla said on a lighter note.

Dhond submitted that the movie’s release was being delayed due to political reasons. Questioning the political angle, the bench asked if the petitioner claimed that the ruling party was against Ranaut, who is not just the co-producer of the movie but also a sitting BJP Member of Parliament.

However, Dhond said that the ruling party was willing to displease a sitting parliamentarian just to appease a particular section of society.

The HC has asked the CBFC to take a decision by September 25 and communicate the same to the filmmakers.

Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao’s ‘Stree 2’ has etched its name in cinematic history by becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film ever, surpassing the lifetime collections of Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed the news on his official X handle.

As of this week, the horror-comedy has amassed a staggering Rs 586 crore at the Indian box office, showcasing its phenomenal popularity among audiences. The film, which stars Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in the lead, continues to attract moviegoers during its fifth week.

With daily collections showcasing remarkable consistency, the figures for the weekend included Rs Rs 3.60 crore on Friday, Rs 5.55 crore on Saturday, and Rs 6.85 crore on Sunday, followed by Rs 3.17 crore on Monday and Rs 2.65 crore on Tuesday.

‘Stree 2’ earned a remarkable Rs 453.60 crore net in its second week alone. Despite facing competition from new releases like Akshay Kumar’s ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and John Abraham’s ‘Vedaa’, the film quickly established itself as the audience’s favourite.

Directed by Amar Kaushik, ‘Stree 2’ has captivated audiences not only with its engaging storyline but also with star-studded cameos from Varun Dhawan and Akshay Kumar, both of whom have been praised for their contributions to the film. Originally released in 2018, the first instalment, ‘Stree’, was already a massive hit, setting high expectations for the sequel.

However, ‘Stree 2’ has managed to exceed those expectations, capturing the hearts of fans across the country. As the film gears up to potentially cross the Rs 600 crore milestone, the excitement surrounding ‘Stree 2’ continues to build. Alongside Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, the film also stars Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee and Aparshakti Khurana.

Actor Priyanka Chopra’s latest Instagram post is dedicated to her husband-singer Nick Jonas on his birthday.

As Nick turned a year older on Monday, Priyanka took to Instagram and penned a heartfelt note for him, writing, “Happiest birthday to the best husband and dad. You make all our dreams come true .. everyday.. we love you @nickjonas (red heart emoji).” She also shared several visuals from Nick’s birthday celebrations in London.

In one of the images, the trio can be seen posing backstage at Nick’s O2 Arena concert in London. Priyanka looks stunning in orange bodycon dress, while Nick sports a casual look in a blue jacket and trousers with a graphic T-shirt.

Nick also received a sweet birthday wish from his mother-in-law, Madhu Chopra. “Happy birthday to my wonderful son-in-law. You are truly a blessing! So grateful to have you in our family,” she wrote.

Priyanka and Nick got married in a Christian and a Hindu ceremony in Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace on December 1 and 2 in 2018. In January 2022, the two announced that they welcomed daughter Malti Marie via surrogacy.

Meanwhile, on the work front, recently, Priyanka wrapped the shooting of her upcoming film ‘The Bluff’ and shared a glimpse of the wrap-up featuring her family including Nick Jonas, Malti Marie and her mother Madhu Chopra and the cast of the film.

‘The Bluff’ which is directed by Frank E Flowers also features actor Karl Urban.

In a recent interview with ANI in Singapore, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ actor Ismael Cruz Cordova shared that he is a huge fan of Priyanka Chopra. He also opened up about his experience working with her in the upcoming film ‘The Bluff’.

“Working with the greats is always something that you never know how it’s going to be. Priyanka is an incredible leader..so generous. She’s so cool also. I am a huge fan. She is such a great leader. So charismatic, so loving. She made everybody on set feel great. She keeps her culture so close to her. Her mother and daughter were also on set with us, the whole family dynamics, it really grounds you,” he said.

‘The Bluff’ is set in the 19th-century Caribbean and follows the story of a former female pirate, played by Priyanka, who must protect her family when the sins of her past catch up to her.

Produced by Russo Brothers’ banner AGBO Studios and Amazon MGM Studios, the film promises to be a thrilling adventure.

Apart from ‘The Bluff’, Priyanka is also set to star in ‘Heads of State’ alongside John Cena and Idris Elba.