Bell Bottom to Padmaavat: Indian films that were banned abroad

The Indian film industry has seen its fair share of films being banned within the country. However, at the same time, there have been several critically and commercially successful Bollywood films that didn't get their dues internationally. While some films were barred from their release for allegedly 'distorting facts', others were pulled out of theatres in a bid to avoid 'hurting sentiments'. Here's a list of hit Indian films that were banned abroad.

Akshay Kumar bit the bullet and became the first Bollywood star to release his film 'Bell Bottom' in theatres. However, it was revealed on Monday that the film got banned in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. Apparently, members of the film certification board in the said countries cited that the film (based on real-life incidents) "tampered with historical facts..." Reports added that 'Bell Bottom' shows the hijackers taking the aircraft to Dubai from Lahore. As per the actual 1984 incident, it was United Arab Emirates Defence Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum who had personally handled the situation and the UAE authorities were credited for nabbing the hijackers.

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed 'Padmaavat' didn't just court controversy in India but also created a stir in Malaysia. The film was banned by the country’s censor board as it touched upon the “sensitivities of Islam”. The chairman of the National Film Censorship Board (LPF) made headlines when he has said the lavishly-mounted film was not cleared as it might offend the Muslims in the country.

Sonam Kapoor gave one of her career-best performances to date with the film 'Neerja', based on the life of air hostess Neerja Bhanot, sadly her fans in Pakistan didn't get to see the film. 'Neerja' was added to the growing list of Indian films banned in the neighbouring country, simply because it showed Pakistan in a bad light. The film revolved around the true-life events of the braveheart who sacrificed her life to save the passengers taken hostage by terrorists.

Vidya Balan's award-winning film 'The Dirty Picture', based on the life of actress Silk Smitha, also didn't get its dues outside the Indian market. According to reports, the film was banned in many countries, including Kuwait as the censor board found Vidya’s character 'too bold' for their audience.

'Delhi Belly' achieved cult status in India for its bold content. However, the film hit a roadblock in Nepal when the censor board stepped in and stopped the screenings. It was reported that the excessive swearing and few scenes considered 'obscene' were to be blamed. Within two days of its release, the film was banned as the 'obscene' portions were not deleted.

Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal's 'Oh My God' was one of the biggest film releases in India that won praise for pushing the envelope and raising questions over religious fanaticism. Despite the good reviews and critical acclaim, the film was banned in many middle-eastern countries and barred from screening as it would 'hurt religious sentiments'. UAE was among the many countries that banned the film.

The Hrithik Roshan and Karisma Kapoor starrer courted controversy at the time of its release on home soil and abroad. The film saw Hrithik play the role of a middle-class Muslim man who becomes a militant. This plot didn't sit too well with the Malaysian Government officials who banned the film and said in a statement, "A Muslim cannot be a terrorist."

'Bombay' the critically acclaimed Mani Ratnam directorial will always be one of the finest films of Indian cinema. The film that centred around the events that led to the Bombay (now Mumbai) riots of 1992-1993, saw a tough time during its release. Apart from the violent incidents that took place at the time of its release in India, the film was banned by the Singapore government, citing the 'religious tensions'.