Khel Khel Mein: UAE censors a pivotal scene on sexuality from Akshay Kumar and Fardeen Khan's movie, director Mudassar Aziz reacts

Khel Khel Mein marks Akshay Kumar's third release of 2024, following Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Sarfira. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, the film features an ensemble cast including Fardeen Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Vaani Kapoor, Ammy Virk, Aditya Seal, and Pragya Jaiswal. Although the movie received mixed reviews, it has generated significant buzz, especially as it marks Fardeen Khan's return to the big screen after a 14-year break.

An entertainment news report suggests that Khel Khel Mein faced some challenges with its release in the UAE. A scene involving Fardeen Khan's character, which addresses issues of sexuality, was cut due to local censorship regulations. In a recent interview with Mid-Day, Mudassar Aziz expressed his disappointment over the cut. He found it heartbreaking that something so relevant and thoughtfully portrayed was removed from the UAE version of the film. Aziz stated that, as a filmmaker, it is both his professional and moral responsibility to create diverse characters and spark meaningful conversations. Although he was saddened by the censorship, he was happy with the positive reactions the scene received in other parts of the world.

Aziz further explained that, through Fardeen's role, he aimed to contribute to a necessary and relevant conversation about acceptance. While edits were made in the UAE, the core message of the character remained intact, and he continues to stand by its importance.

As reported by the Hindustan Times, a fan from Dubai expressed disappointment over the scene being censored from Akshay Kumar and Fardeen Khan's movie. The fan shared how they were upset to learn from Indian viewers about the scene, feeling that the censorship robbed them of experiencing the 'powerful message'.

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Meanwhile, Khel Khel Mein was released in theatres on August 15, 2024. The movie clashed with two other Hindi movies: Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor's Stree 2 and John Abraham and Sharvari's Vedaa. The former is shattering records at the box office. It is a sequel to the 2018 superhit movie Stree. Speaking of Akshay Kumar, the actor will be next seen in Rohit Shetty's Singham Again this year. The cop action drama also stars Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, and Tiger Shroff.