Universal's Highest Grossing R-rated Film 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Banned in India

"Fifty Shades of Grey", which is one of the highest grossing R-rated films, will not release in Indian box offices.

The censor board of India has banned the screening of the erotic thriller in the country despite removing the sex scenes.

While Shravan Kumar, the chief executive of the Central Board of Film Certification, refused to comment on why the board didn't approve the film, distributor of the film Universal Pictures said that censor board objected to some of the dialogues. 

"The board had objected to some of the film's dialogue, even after the studio made voluntary edits to the film to tone down its sex scenes and removed all nudity," a Universal Pictures source told Reuters.

Earlier, Mumbai Mirror reported that censor board has a problem with the language of the film. The board feels that the language is "too provocative and laced with sexual implications".

"The majority of the members at the screening felt that it isn't a film fit for Indian audiences. And when opinion is divided, the final decision will be taken by Chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani," a board member told Mirror.

India is not the first country to ban the release of "Fifty Shades of Grey". Earlier, Malaysia, Indonesia and Kenya had banned the screening of the film.

"Fifty Shades of Grey", which is adapted from the erotic novel of the same name, was released during the Valentine's Day weekend globally.

The film created wonders at the box office and became Universal Pictures' highest grossing R-rated international release. The film is also nearing $500 million mark globally.

Actors Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson portray the role of a couple who are in a sadomasochistic relationship.