Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 22, 2017)

After much deliberation over the beachside skin-show in Priyanka Chopra’s Hollywood debut, Baywatch was cleared on Friday afternoon with an ‘A’ certificate with four verbal and one visual cuts.

However, fans of the bikini babes in Baywatch can breathe easy. Not a single beachwear shot has been cut.

Explains CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani, “There was no rationale to cut the bikini images. For one, the series ran on satellite television in India for years and contained lengthy shots of women in bikinis. Secondly, Indian filmmakers really need to stop making such a big issue about bikinis. Go to Goa or Mauritius. The beaches are carpeted with women in bikinis. What is the big deal about such shots?”

What the Censor Board had to cut down was the language. Says Nihalani, “Baywatch is crammed with cuss words and filthy language. We deleted portions where we thought the smutty language was unnecessary. But we’ve allowed the bad language in several dialogues because we felt cutting them took away from the flavour and intention of the words. I’d like to stress that we’ve given an ‘A’ certificate, not just for the bikinis, but for the strong language as well.”