Anurag Kashyap’s long-anticipated noir thriller "Kennedy" officially premiered in India on February 20, 2026, streaming on ZEE5. The film arrives almost three years after its initial festival screenings, but with several significant alterations mandated by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Key among these changes are the removal of direct mentions of underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim and former US President Donald Trump.
Long Journey to Indian Screens
"Kennedy" first garnered international attention at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation. It later had its Indian premiere at the MAMI Film Festival in Mumbai the same year. The film then toured numerous international festivals, including the Sydney Film Festival, the London Indian Film Festival, and the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland. Despite critical acclaim and festival buzz, a theatrical release in India did not materialize, leading to a prolonged wait for domestic audiences. InDecember 2025, the film was also selected for Letterboxd's inaugural Video Store, offering limited global streaming, though India remained excluded at that time. Director Anurag Kashyap expressed his happiness that the film would finally be accessible to a general audience.[thestatesman+16]
Censor Board Mandates Cuts
The Central Board of Film Certification granted "Kennedy" an 'A' certificate, suitable for adult audiences, but only after requiring a series of edits. These changes included muting explicit curse words, such as "motherf*****," in both dialogue and subtitles. The CBFC also mandated the inclusion of an anti-smoking disclaimer during all scenes depicting smoking. Additionally, a 14-second scene was removed entirely from the film. A derogatory line referencing Matunga was also deleted.[thestatesman+16]
Altered References to Real-Life Figures
One of the most notable changes involved references to real-life figures. Mentions of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim were replaced with the more generic term "Pakistan Don." Inthe original version, a character named Salim was depicted as an associate of Dawood, but all direct references were altered. Similarly, a dialogue that originally referred to former US President Donald Trump was changed to "Pump Trump." These specific modifications highlight the CBFC's efforts to edit content perceived as potentially sensitive.[thestatesman+12]
Film's Core Story Remains
"Kennedy" stars Rahul Bhat in the titular role, with Sunny Leone also featuring prominently. The film follows an insomniac ex-police officer, presumed dead, who operates secretly as a hitman for a corrupt senior police official. His mission involves a high-stakes quest for revenge against an international gangster, navigating Mumbai's complex world of corruption and power dynamics. The core narrative, a dark and atmospheric thriller, remains intact despite the mandated cuts.[thestatesman+9]
Director's Playful Response
In a quirky promotional video released a day after the film's streaming debut, Anurag Kashyap appeared to playfully address the censorship. The video showed Kashyap on a call with a figure resembling Donald Trump, seemingly requesting help for a theatrical release and poking fun at the snipped references. This promotional stunt, possibly AI-generated, offered a sarcastic take on the challenges faced in bringing "Kennedy" to Indian audiences.[telegraphindia+1]
The long-awaited release allows Indian viewers to finally experience Anurag Kashyap's latest work, albeit in a version modified by the country's censor board.[telegraphindia]
