Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy: Censor distorts references to Trump, Dawood; silence the abuse
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy for release, but after the filmmakers applied several edits, including muting explicit language and replacing references to public figures with generic words.
Anurag Kashyap’s neo-noir thriller Kennedy It is set to release in India after receiving an ‘A’ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Before granting certification, the Censor Board suggested several changes, prompting deletion and modification of certain references and language. Film starring Rahul Bhatt And Sunny Leone has already attracted attention at international film festivals including Cannes and Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in 2023, and will be available to Indian audiences on ZEE5 on February 20.
❮❯
According to a report by Bollywood HungamaThe expletive ‘motherf***’ was muted in both dialogue and subtitles. References to Donald Trump were changed to ‘Pump Trump’, while scenes of Dawood Ibrahim as well as the line “Dawood Ibrahim in 1993” were removed and replaced with the words ‘Pakistan Don’.
A 14-second sequence containing a derogatory line referencing Matunga was also removed. Additionally, producers were instructed to include anti-smoking disclaimers in all scenes depicting smoking. The duration of the film is 2 hours, 28 minutes and 54 seconds (148 minutes, 54 seconds).
in recent months, Kennedy It gained further recognition as the only Indian film selected for the launch lineup of Letterboxd’s video store in December 2025, although its streaming availability was limited to 23 countries excluding India.
Kennedy It will premiere directly on the ZEE5 streaming platform, bypassing a traditional theatrical release. Zee5 announced the release on social media with the statement, “The system had made Kennedy a weapon, but this is a weapon which works on its own free will and not on the system.! #Kennedy premieres on 20th February, only on #ZEE5.”
story of the film focuses on Uday ShettyA former police officer was presumed dead. Under the alias Kennedy, he works as a hitman in a fractured and corrupt system. The character struggles with insomnia, addiction and personal turmoil, exploring themes of psychological conflict, violence and a desperate search for salvation.
