CBFC Orders Major Alterations in Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Kennedy’ Ahead of India Premiere

February 19, 2026 — As the curtains finally rise for the Indian debut of Anurag Kashyap’s acclaimed neo-noir thriller Kennedy, the film has had to navigate a series of stringent demands from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). In a move to align the film with domestic broadcasting guidelines, the board has mandated the replacement of high-profile names, including Donald Trump and the fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

The film, which stars Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, is scheduled to premiere on the streaming platform ZEE5 on February 20, 2026, nearly three years after its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

From “Donald Trump” to “Pump Trump”

According to the official censorship report, the CBFC’s Examining Committee flagged several references to real-world political and underworld figures. One of the most notable changes involves the name of the current U.S. President. The board directed the filmmakers to modify all mentions of Donald Trump, resulting in the creative—if not slightly unusual—substitution of the name with “Pump Trump.“

Underworld References Scrubbed

The board’s scrutiny also extended to references involving the underworld. Visuals and dialogues pertaining to the notorious fugitive Dawood Ibrahim were ordered to be removed.

• The Change: Mentions of “Dawood Ibrahim” and specific dialogue referring to his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts have been substituted with the term “Pakistan Don.”
• Visual Edits: Any direct photographic or symbolic visuals of the gangster were also excised to ensure compliance with the board’s directives regarding the depiction of designated criminals.

Key Edits and Deletions

Beyond the high-profile name changes, Kennedy underwent several other modifications to secure its ‘A’ (Adults Only) certificate:

• Profanity Muted: Several instances of strong language were muted in the audio track and removed from the subtitles.
• Scene Deletions: A 14-second sequence in the first half of the film, featuring the dialogue “Matunga, Matunga… Pungi bajaao,” was entirely deleted after being deemed objectionable.
• Mandatory Disclaimers: The board has reinforced the requirement for static anti-smoking messages to be displayed prominently in every scene featuring tobacco use.

A Long Journey to the Indian Audience

Kennedy has followed a circuitous path to its home audience. After receiving a standing ovation at Cannes in 2023 and screening at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, the film faced a prolonged wait for its commercial release. In December 2025, it made history as the only Indian film selected for the global launch of Letterboxd’s Video Store, though that release was not available to viewers within India.

The film follows an insomniac ex-cop (Rahul Bhat) who is believed to be dead but secretly operates as a contract killer within a corrupt system. Set against the backdrop of the pandemic, the story explores themes of loneliness and moral decay—elements that director Anurag Kashyap is known for masterfully weaving into his “Mumbai noir” aesthetic.