Hansal Mehta recently revealed the challenges he faced with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the making of his 2017 film, Omerta, and how filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri stepped in to help. In an exclusive conversation, Mehta recalled the difficult process of navigating censorship, particularly with a film that chronicled the life of terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh.

Omerta, starring Rajkummar Rao, revolves around the story of British terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who kidnapped and murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002. Given the sensitive and potentially controversial subject matter, Mehta anticipated a tough battle with the CBFC. His concerns were realized when the CBFC demanded multiple cuts to the film.

According to Mehta, one scene that drew significant objection from the CBFC depicted Omar Saeed Sheikh in jail on Independence Day while the Indian National Anthem was playing. The scene showed Sheikh, in protest, urinating in his cell. The CBFC strongly opposed this, stating that it was unacceptable to show such disrespect during the National Anthem. Mehta, however, argued that the scene was meant to evoke anger and highlight the character's mindset.

During this challenging phase, Vivek Agnihotri, who was on the revising committee of the CBFC, became an unexpected ally. Mehta was in the US shooting Simran when the screening took place, so his son, Jai, attended on his behalf. Jai informed him that Agnihotri had vigorously debated with other members of the committee. Agnihotri's intervention proved crucial in limiting the number of cuts to just two. Mehta expressed his gratitude to Agnihotri for his support, acknowledging that without it, the film would have faced numerous alterations.

The two cuts that were eventually made included the aforementioned scene with the National Anthem and another featuring full frontal nudity during a violent sex sequence. Mehta explained that the sex scene was intended to depict the protagonist's mental state, but the committee deemed it too graphic for general viewing. While Mehta had to concede to these cuts, he maintained that they did not significantly hamper the narrative.

Prior to the intervention of the Revising Committee, the Examining Committee had demanded a far greater number of cuts, which Mehta found difficult to even keep track of. The CBFC also raised concerns about strong language and violent content in the film. The film was further delayed when the Bahrain censors refused to grant it a certificate due to its anti-Muslim subject.

Despite the censorship challenges and delays, Omerta was eventually released and received critical acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of terrorism. Mehta's willingness to fight for his artistic vision, coupled with the unexpected support from Vivek Agnihotri, ensured that the film retained its essence and impact.