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Ahead of its release on March 14, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared The Diplomat, starring John Abraham, with a condition—the makers must include a disclaimer stating the importance of maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries. The political thriller, directed by Shivam Nair, is inspired by the 2017 repatriation of Uzma Ahmed. The decision came after the film was screened for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the first week of March. The CBFC certification, granted on March 6, also included minor edits to specific scenes and dialogues.
CBFC clears John Abraham starrer The Diplomat with disclaimer mandate: Report
MEA Screening and CBFC’s Directive
As per a report by Mid-Day, the MEA’s review aimed to ensure that the film’s narrative did not negatively impact India’s diplomatic ties with Pakistan. Following the screening, the CBFC mandated a visual and audio disclaimer clarifying that the film, though inspired by real events, is a dramatized portrayal and does not reflect the Indian government’s official stance. The disclaimer was deemed essential as the movie is set in Pakistan, a politically sensitive backdrop for international relations.
The report quoted a source saying, “Considering the film is centred on international diplomacy, a disclaimer was necessary to underline that while inspired by real events, the geopolitical representation is fictionalized. The film is set in Pakistan, and given the sensitivities of India-Pakistan relations, this step was crucial.”
Real Names Retained, Minor Edits Implemented
Despite the disclaimer directive, the CBFC permitted the use of real names in the film. This includes Uzma Ahmed’s name for Sadia Khateeb’s character, as well as references to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, diplomat JP Singh (played by Abraham), and Prashant Jadhav. The certification process also required slight modifications—a violent scene involving a young boy killing a woman was trimmed, and an expletive was muted.
The Diplomat: A Political Thriller Based on True Events
The Diplomat revolves around the real-life incident of Uzma Ahmed, who, in May 2017, escaped from her husband’s house in Pakistan and sought refuge at the Indian Embassy in Islamabad, claiming she was forced into marriage. John Abraham plays Indian diplomat JP Singh, who led her repatriation. The film, produced by Abraham in collaboration with T-Series, aims to highlight the complexities of international diplomacy while presenting a gripping narrative.
With the CBFC’s clearance and disclaimer in place, The Diplomat is set to release as scheduled on March 14.
Also Read: The Diplomat: John Abraham praises real-life Indian Diplomat J.P. Singh
More Pages: The Diplomat Box Office Collection
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