Controversies on movies are no new thing in Bollywood. People have objected on the content, story, title of the film many times. Recently, Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming movie faced flak over the title change for her film Mental Hai Kya now titled ‘Judgmental Hai Kya.’
But this is not the first time a movie has undergone title change before its release. Here is the rundown of the films whose title were changed in order to avoid controversies.
- Mental Hai Kya to Judgemental Hai Kya
The most recent film to go through the title change is Kangana Ranaut starrer movie Mental Hai Kya who is now titled Judgemental Hai Kya. The movie produced by Ekta Kapoor which also stars Rajkummar Rao in lead has to change the title after CBFC found it ‘harsh’. The production house changed the title in a day and then the much-awaited trailer of the movie was released.
- Padmavati to Padmavaat
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s famous movie Padmavaat which was earlier titled Padmavati has to go through a lot of criticism not only because of the title but also because of the content, characterization, and costumes. Sanjay Leela Bhansali tried his best to clarify the content but he could not help changing the name of the film. Earlier the title was kept on the Rajput queen but was later changed to the name of a poem written on her after it hurt the sentiments of Rajput Karni Sena.
- ‘Ramleela’ to ‘Ram-Leela’ to ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’
Sanjay Leela Bhansali films usually face the title change thing. Before Padmavaat, it was Ram-Leela which starred Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh had to face the title change. Reportedly the film has to face the title change three times before the release of the film. Initially, the film was titled Ramleela but it has to be changed as the name was associated with Lord Ram. Later it was changed to Ram-Leela and before the release, the filmmaker changed the title to Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela.
- Rambo Rajkumar to R… Rajkumar
Prabhudeva directorial movie that starrer Shahid Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha in the lead role have to undergo title change as it was initially titled Rambo Rajkumar but it faced opposition from Hollywood film series Rambo as they possess copyright of the title. The filmmakers not only had to change the title of the film but also had to change the name of Shahid’s character. The movie was then titled R..Rajkumar.
- Billu Barber to Billu
The film which starred Irrfan Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in lead roles was much appreciated by the audience as well as the critics. But before the release, the movie has to face backlash on the title as the initial title which was Billu Barber faced flak from the hair stylist community stating that their sentiments were hurt. They had two option of either dropping the word Barber or adding the word Hairdresser. The first option was opted by the filmmakers and the movie was titled Billu.
- Aman Ki Aasha to Total Siyappa
The romantic comedy which starred Ali Zafar and Yami Gautam in the lead role has to face title change. In the film, Aman (Ali), a Pakistani man falls in love with an Indian, Aasha (Yami)because of that the makers had named the movie Aman ki Aasha initially but they had to forgo that title as ‘Aman ki Aasha’ is an initiative started by the The Jang Group of Pakistan and Times of India in India. The two publication took the copyright of the title and the makers changed it to Total Siyappa.
- Loveratri’ to ‘Loveyatri’
The film which stars Salman Khan’s brother-in-law Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain landed into trouble when the court asked the police to register FIR against Salman as the title and content of the film hurt religious sentiments of Hindus. It was alleged that the title of the film made fun of Holy Festival of Navratri. Following which Salman Khan announced the title change of the film from Loveratri to Loveyatri.
