Censor board kindest to ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’ but won’t accept any cuts: Anurag Kashyap

Mumbai, May 10 (IANS) Director Anurag Kashyap, who has had a run-in with the censor board for a long time, says that they have been the kindest to his new film "Raman Raghav 2.0", but he is still not willing to accept any cuts.

About his trouble with the censors, Kashyap, at the trailer launch,said: "Right now, let's see what happens. The censor board in a way has been the kindest to this film, because they actually liked it and whatever.

"But for me, in this film there are many things that I want them to stay intact. So for me, I would not be satisfied with a single cut. And to avoid any kind of a cut, we will do whatever it will take."

"Raman Raghav 2.0" will be screened at the Cannes film festival, commencing on May 11.

With the current obsession in the film industry to book release dates several months ago, and sometimes even a year ago, has Kashyap booked his release according to Cannes? "No, it is absolutely not that. Our release date depends on when the film gets ready. And usually it also depends on the censors," he said.

Kashyap's troubles with the censor is well-known; his debut film, "Paanch" is still reportedly unreleased due to the censor board's objections. He also delayed the release of his film "Ugly" for a long time as he didn't want to carry the anti-smoking disclaimer, but eventually relented.

He also clarified that "Raman Raghav 2.0" is just inspired from the infamous 1960s serial killer Raman Raghav and is not a biopic. "If you look at the film from one way, it is fiction, but a lot of elements are borrowed from the original story... It's always very difficult, but this is not really based on a real-life character.

"This is actually inspired from him because that character is in the 1960s and this film is based in today's times. It's difficult because you're starting to say something, you're treading a very dangerous line and you have your own sense of responsibility... If it would've been a biopic it would have been 10 times more difficult."

Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the title character.