Akshay Kumar's 3D film '2.0' cleared for release in Pakistan

Central Board of Film Censors came to a unanimous decision in issuing clearance certificate

LAHORE: The Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) has cleared Indian film 2.0 for release in Pakistan. All CBFC members were present at the censorship meeting where the clearance certificate was issued. Besides CBFC, the Sindh Film Censor Board (SFCB) and Punjab Film Censor Board (PFCB) have also cleared the film for release.

"All members came to a unanimous decision regarding the release of 2.0. We agreed on a universal rating for the film as we did not find anything objectionable within the content and everything was in line with our policy. Therefore, all distributors are free to release the film without any cuts," a CBFC official told The Express Tribune. "PFCB and SFCB have followed our decision and also issued a universal certificate to the film after holding their respective meetings."

PHOTO: LYCA

The Akshay Kumar-starrer is set to release on November 30. According to the purchasing company Distributors Club, the film will be screened at around 75 cinemas across Pakistan.

It is important to mention here that the PFCB committee has been dissolved by the Punjab Information and Culture Minister, Fayyazul Hasan Chohan. According to sources, the decision was made due to the government no longer being able to afford its members.

The board’s chairman and vice chairman, along with all its other members, were removed in an attempt to reevaluate the budget. “After receiving several reports of financial corruption, the  ministry has decided to conduct an audit,” a senior official stated. Nonetheless, the current members will carry on with their respective duties until a new committee is appointed.

Punjab Film Censor Board suspended amid corruption reports

According to sources, former film actor and censor board chairperson Zeba’s monthly salary was whopping  Rs1.2 million. Other board members were also receiving quite a hefty monthly sum, including the newly appointed chairperson Shoaib bin Aziz. “It was beyond our understanding why such huge sums were being paid to the members, in comparison to the amount of work they were doing. Only a few films are produced every year so I would like to know what work this committee has been doing, other than receiving big salaries?” questioned the official.

PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESS

The members of the Distribution Club are hoping for 2.0 to break box office records in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other major cities. Promotional campaigns are going on all around Pakistan and have met with a positive public response.

"A lot of money has gone into the film as it features special affects and camera work equal to Hollywood standards. It is one of the most expensive films in the history of Indian cinemas as it is the first to incorporate 3D technology in its entirety,"  claimed a Distributor's Club official."

2.0 is the sequel to 2010's Tamil film Enthiran. It has been directed by S Shankar and also features South Indian superstar Rajinikanth and Amy Jackson alongside Kumar, who plays the villain.

Edited by Ramsha Vistro

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