Exclusive: Balaji Telefilms, Phantom to split over Udta Punjab censor row?

The aftermath of the ongoing tussle between the makers of 'Udta Punjab' and the Censor Board is an apparent fall-out between the film’s co-producers Phantom Films and Balaji Telefilms.

While, Balaji Telefilms doesn't seem to mind the cuts advised by the Censor Board, Phantom which is helmed by Anurag Kashyap, wants to put up a long battle.

Read: CBFC chief Nihalani is oligarch and dictator, says Anurag Kashyap

A source close to the development said, “Jeetendra and Balaji Telefilms are ready to go by the Censor Board’s cuts as long as the film releases on scheduled date, June 17. On the other hand Anurag Kashyap on behalf of Phantom won’t accept a single cut and is ready to fight it out with the censors for as long as it takes.”

There is a growing possibility that Balaji may back out of 'Udta Punjab', if they cannot see eye to eye with their co-producers.

Read: Censoring Udta Punjab won't fix drug problem, says Rahul Gandhi

The censor board’s Revising Committee has suggested 89 cuts in it and removal of all references to the state of Punjab including from its title.

Anurag who has had run-ins with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in the past, vented his anger through social media. He described the board’s chief Pahlaj Nihalani as an ‘oligarch’ and a 'dictator'.