Tamil actor Vishal has ignited controversy with startling claims of paying a bribe to the Censor Board to obtain certification for his film, “Mark Antony.” In a statement posted on his social media account, the actor revealed details of the alleged scam and called for the attention of top authorities, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This is about the scam that has transpired in CBFC Mumbai in relation to my film (Mark Antony)… I would like to address this with Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and PM Modi. We applied online for film certification, but we were taken aback by what happened over there in the CBFC office,” Vishal expressed.
The actor disclosed that he was asked to pay a substantial bribe of Rs 6.5 lakh in exchange for the certification. Out of this amount, Rs 3 lakh was purportedly designated for those responsible for reviewing the film, while the remaining Rs 3 lakh was to secure the certificate itself. Vishal stated that he had no choice but to comply with these demands.
“I had no option, I had to pay up. I received the certificate and my film Mark Antony was released in North India. But it is unfortunate. If this is the case in Govt offices, I really request the higher officials to look into this matter… (sic)”
After paying the bribe, he received the necessary certification, allowing the release of “Mark Antony” in North India. Vishal concluded his video by expressing his concern about such practices within government offices and urging higher officials to investigate the matter.
The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread discussion and concern.
Actor-turned-producer Jackky Bhagnani, when asked to comment on the issue, stated that he had not encountered any such situation with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) thus far. However, he also mentioned that he was unaware of the specific details of Vishal’s claims and declined to comment further.
“I have never faced such an experience. I have not even heard what he has said. so, I would not like to comment on it”
Vishal’s shocking revelation has raised questions about transparency and integrity within the film certification process, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.
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