Director Sriram Raghavan’s revenge thriller Badlapur, starring Varun Dhawan, was released with an ‘A’ (Adults Only) certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after discussions over the film’s mature content.
Rather than making extensive edits to secure a lower certification, the filmmakers chose to retain key sequences they considered essential to the story and accepted an adult rating.
Why Did the Film Receive an ‘A’ Certificate?
According to reports from the time of the film’s release, the CBFC raised concerns over several scenes involving:
- Strong violence
- Graphic confrontations
- Mature romantic content
- Intense emotional themes
Discussions reportedly took place regarding the possibility of awarding the film a U/A certificate if certain scenes were modified or removed.
However, director Sriram Raghavan preferred to preserve the film’s original narrative instead of making significant edits.
Scenes Reportedly Discussed During Certification
Media reports at the time suggested that the CBFC had concerns regarding certain sequences involving:
- Intimate moments between Varun Dhawan and Yaami Gautam
- A kissing scene featuring Huma Qureshi
- Violent confrontation scenes involving Varun Dhawan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Hunterfly has not independently verified the specific certification discussions, and the CBFC’s final decision was to grant the film an ‘A’ certificate, allowing the original version to be released for adult audiences.
Director Chose Story Over Cuts
Instead of editing scenes that were considered important to the emotional and psychological journey of the protagonist, the filmmakers accepted the adult classification.
The decision allowed the film to retain its intended tone, which relied heavily on intense violence, grief and moral ambiguity.
About Badlapur
Released in 2015, Badlapur is a neo-noir crime thriller directed by Sriram Raghavan.
The film follows a man whose life is shattered after a tragic crime involving his family, leading him on a years-long path of revenge.
The movie is widely regarded as one of Varun Dhawan’s most acclaimed performances because it showcased him in a darker, more dramatic role than audiences had previously seen.
Cast
Badlapur features an ensemble cast including:
- Varun Dhawan
- Nawazuddin Siddiqui
- Yaami Gautam
- Huma Qureshi
- Divya Dutta
- Radhika Apte
- Vinay Pathak
- Kumud Mishra
Critical and Commercial Reception
Following its release, Badlapur received praise from critics for its screenplay, direction and performances.
Varun Dhawan’s portrayal of Raghu was particularly appreciated for demonstrating his range as an actor beyond commercial entertainers.
The film has since developed a strong following among fans of psychological thrillers and is often cited as one of Sriram Raghavan’s notable works.
