Why Saudi Arabia barred screening of Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 in cinemas?

Bollywood films Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 have been barred from release in Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom citing religious and cultural sensitivities as reasons for the ban.

Both films were set to premiere worldwide today, November 1, to coincide with the Hindu festival of Diwali.

However, screenings in Saudi Arabia were halted due to objections raised by the Saudi censor authorities over religious and cultural content.

The film censor board in Saudi Arabia has stringent regulations that prohibit content deemed incompatible with local traditions or religious sensitivities.

While some films are edited to align with local standards, many are banned outright.

According to reports, Singham Again was banned due to scenes involving religious conflict, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 faced objections over scenes depicting homosexuality.

Directed by Rohit Shetty, Singham Again stars Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Ranveer Singh. The film’s release has also been delayed in Singapore until November 7 due to pending censorship approvals.

Meanwhile, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, a horror-comedy directed by Anees Bazmee, features Kartik Aaryan, Madhuri Dixit, and Vidya Balan in key roles.