Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has sharply criticized the Indian film certification system, arguing that films depicting social realities often struggle to get past censorship, whereas those filled with vulgar content seem to receive approval easily.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Anantrang mental health cultural festival, Akhtar said bluntly, “In this country, vulgarity will still be passed by the regulatory bodies … what will not be passed is something that shows the mirror to society.”  He contended that the censorship process is skewed in favour of male-chauvinistic content that humiliates women, while challenging or uncomfortable themes are suppressed.