Vulgarity, nudity, abuse need to stop: Salman Khan bats for censorship on OTT

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has voiced his thoughts on the content being produced for digital platforms, making a case for censorship on OTT to ensure that it is suitable for all age groups.

The actor argued that even kids and teenagers have access to such content, which is nothing short of vulgar, given the nudity and cussing, and that it should be checked to ensure it is appropriate for all viewers.

Salman also spoke out against actors who perform intimate scenes and expose themselves on screen, citing security reasons and suggesting that it is not necessary to cross certain boundaries in India.

In recent years, many actors, including Saif Ali Khan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Shahid Kapoor, and Manoj Bajpayee, have made their debuts on digital platforms and have received critical acclaim for their performances. Salman, however, has not yet ventured into the OTT world, which has become increasingly popular due to the decline in theatre attendance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Hindustan Times, Salman, while speaking at a recent event, said, “I really think there should be censorship on the medium [OTT]. All this… vulgarity, nudity, cussing needs to stop. Kids as young as 15 or 16 can access it. Would you like it if your young daughter watches it? I just think the content on OTT needs to be checked. The cleaner the content, the better it will be. It will also have a better viewership.”

Speaking of artistes who ‘do it all’ on the screen, Salman added, “You have done it all – love making, kissing and exposing in scenes. And when you enter your building, your watchman has also watched your work. I just don’t think that is right for security reasons. We don’t need to do that… You don’t need to cross the boundary. We live in India. It was way too much before, finally, it has been curbed. Now, people have started working on a lot of good and decent content.”

Salman's comments on censorship on digital media have sparked a debate about the need for regulation in the Indian film industry. While some agree with his views, others argue that such regulation could stifle creative freedom and limit the scope of storytelling. Ultimately, it highlights the need to strike a balance between creative expression and responsible content production.

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