L2: Empuraan, which has kicked up a storm over its censoring issues, is set to get 24 cuts instead of the earlier 17, according to the Censor Board of Film Certification.
One of the changes in L2: Empuraan will the name of veteran actor and Union Minister Suresh Gopi.
Suresh Gopi, who is the only BJP MP from Kerala, earlier dismissed the controversy over the Mohanlal starrer as drama and a bid to mint money in the box office. "Who has raised the controversy? It's all business. Screwing up the psyche of the people and making money. That's all," he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: On the Waqf Amendment Bill, Union Minister Suresh Gopi says, "The opposition has nothing to do except protest. We will do everything that benefits the country and the citizens..."
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2025
On movie 'L2: Empuraan', he says, "What is the controversy in this? It is all… pic.twitter.com/1gQFbe5snw
L2: Empuraan, the sequel to Lucifer directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, will also see the main villain's name changed from Balraj Bajrangi to Baldev as well as the mention of NIA getting muted.
A scene where religious symbols are seen in the background as well as another one showing a woman being assaulted have been removed. Certain contentious dialogues between two antagonists have also been edited.
Producer Antony Perumbavoor revealed that the edits were done voluntarily and not because of political pressure.
L2: Empuraan kicked up a political storm over its references to the 2002 Gujarat riots and depicting one of the perpetrators as the antagonist, with right-wing outfits labelling the movie as "anti-RSS".
Following the backlash, actor Mohanlal apologised on Facebook, admitting that some parts of the film caused discomfort to certain people. He had also assured fans that contentious references would be removed from L2: Empuraan.
