Bombay High Court seeks CBFC’s explanation for denying certification to Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi. Judges ask, “If no objection was taken to the book, how could a film inspired by it disturb public order?”
The makers of the movie Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi have approached the Bombay High Court against the decision of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which refused to give a certificate to the film.
The movie is said to be based on the life of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and is inspired by the book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, which has been publicly available for the past eight years.
The film’s production house, Samrat Cinematics, was represented by advocates Aseem Naphade, Satatya Anand, and Nikhil Aradhe in court.
They told the bench that the CBFC rejected the applications for certification of the movie, its trailer, and even the songs, without actually watching the film.
The Bombay High Court bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale will hear the matter on Friday, August 1.
During the proceedings, the court issued a notice to the CBFC and asked them to explain their reason for denying certification.
The court questioned how a film inspired by a book that has been available to the public for nearly eight years could suddenly create a law and order issue.
The judges asked,
“If no objection was taken to the book, how could a film inspired by it disturb public order?”
The film stars Anant Joshi in the lead role. The story of Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi aims to portray the journey of a man who gave up worldly pleasures to serve the people.
In June, the makers released a new poster of the film on social media to give a glimpse into the biographical drama. In their post, they wrote,
“Jag chhoda, Bhagwa Odha, Seva mein ramm gaya. Ek Yogi — jo akela hi poora aandolan ban gaya! Yogi Ji Ke Janmotsav par prastut hai us kahaani ka aarambh. #AjeyTheUntoldStoryOfAYogi – 1st August se cinema gharoṅ mein.”
Anant Joshi, who plays the main character, also shared his experience about preparing for the role. He revealed that he went bald to look the part and described it as a deep personal transformation.
He told IANS,
“Losing it wasn’t just a cosmetic change — it was letting go of a part of myself.”
He added that shaving his head was not just a physical change, but an emotional and spiritual one as well.
He further said,
“But this role demanded that sacrifice. I knew I couldn’t fake it. I had to live it. I had to become Yogi, not just act like him.”
CASE TITLE:
Samrat Cinematics India Pvt. Ltd vs CBFC and Ors
Click Here to Read Our Reports on CM Yogi Adityanath Biopic ‘Ajey’
