CBFC Introduces Mandatory Anti-Drug Warnings in Bollywood Films

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has introduced mandatory anti-drug warnings in Bollywood films. This comes after a series of discussions and debates among filmmakers and industry experts. The new guidelines, notified by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 16 under the Cinematograph Act, make anti-drug warnings mandatory in films depicting narcotics.

The changes come alongside the Centre's reconstitution of the CBFC with a new 18-member board.

Sanjay Gupta, a prominent filmmaker and director, has questioned the continued use of smoking as part of a leading man's on-screen image and on posters in Bollywood films. Gupta shared posters featuring Ranbir Kapoor in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal. Ranveer Singh in Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar, and Vicky Kaushal in Sanjay Leela Bhansali'It's Love &amp.

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War, with all three actors seen smoking in their respective looks.

Gupta's post on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted the discrepancy between the anti-smoking messages shown in theatres before and during films and the presence of smoking on posters. His comments sparked a discussion in the comments. With users pointing out the inconsistency and agreeing with Gupta's broader concern about how smoking is used in films.

When a viewer likened the campaign to the disclaimers that accompany streaming content, they drew an apt comparison. The parallels were striking, with the same level of scrutiny applied to Gupta's own 2002 film Kaante, which featured a song referencing smoking. Notably, the rules and public messaging surrounding smoking had evolved significantly since then.

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This prompted Gupta to clarify the context in which his work was created.

According to the new guidelines, anti-drug warnings are now mandatory in films depicting narcotics. The changes aim to promote responsible content and raise awareness about the risks associated with substance abuse. The CBFC's reconstitution with a new 18-member board is expected to bring about a fresh perspective and more stringent regulations in the industry.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has notified the new guidelines. Which are expected to have a significant impact on the Indian film industry.