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Sanjay Gupta claims underage kids are watching Obsession in India despite A rating by CBFC: ‘Theatre was packed’

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta revealed on social media how he noticed a packed theatre for Obsession while the theatre for a recent Malayalam release was empty.

Updated on: May 31, 2026 08:12 AM IST
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Obsession is the latest Hollywood offering that has everyone hooked to the horror genre again. Despite the cuts and modifications by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the A rating antagonising the internet, it looks like the audience is still flocking to theatres. Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta claimed that underage kids are also sneaking in to watch the film in India. (Also Read: CBFC chops off 38 seconds key footage in highest-rated horror movie of 2026 Obsession despite A rating; internet miffed)

Sanjay Gupta says underage kids are watching Obsession

Sanjay Gupta says he went to watch a Malayalam film but noticed a full theatre for Obsession.
Sanjay Gupta says he went to watch a Malayalam film but noticed a full theatre for Obsession.

On X (formerly Twitter), Sanjay revealed that he had gone to the theatre to watch a recent Malayalam release while his son watched Obsession in the next screen. The filmmaker claims that even underage kids were watching the film, writing, “Yesterday evening I went for a just released Malayalam film and I was the only one in the theatre. In the next screen my son was watching OBSESSION and the theatre was packed with kids most of whom were underage. It’s amazing how this film is sensation all over.”

Curry Barker’s Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette-starrer Obsession is the highest-rated horror film on Rotten Tomatoes in 2026. The film tells the story of a man who breaks the mysterious ‘one wish willow’ to win his crush’s heart. Soon, he discovers that his wish comes with a hefty price as his crush’s behaviour begins to get erratic. The film was released in India on May 29 after its US release a few days earlier on May 15.

When the list of cuts and modifications by the CBFC began circulating, the internet was miffed at 38 seconds of footage being cut. The film’s runtime is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes (110.29) with anti-tobacco and anti-liquor disclaimers factored in. The most notable changes to the film came from the reduction of 24 seconds of ‘extreme violence’ and the complete removal of 14 seconds of ‘graphic sexual activity’, leading to 38 seconds of removed key footage.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeshita Nyayapati

Despite having a Master's degree in Journalism and over a decade of experience in print and digital media as a field reporter and sub-editor at organisations such as The Times of India and Reader's Digest, Neeshita Nyayapati remains a movie buff first and a Chief Content Producer second. She fell in love with movies in childhood and believes nothing matches the magic of watching a good film that moves you with a warm tub of popcorn in hand. Her love for writing about cinema follows that. Come Friday, you'll find her at her happy place, the movies, catching the latest rom-com or masala offering, for reviews or otherwise. As for the rest of the week, she's here reporting the juiciest news in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi or bringing out the best of celebs in interviews. While her niche is Telugu cinema, Neeshita likes to dabble in a little bit of everything to stay up to date. From film announcements to scandals and hard news angles, she has explored it all. A good book, a comforting cup of hot chocolate, puppy kisses and a stunning beach view are all she needs to unwind. Her passion for biking and travelling has taken her to various places across the country. She has found peace in everything from the frozen lakes of Gangtok to the coffee plantations of Coorg and the dense forests of Bandipur, to the monasteries of Darjeeling. But no matter where she goes, Neeshita loves coming across inspiring and moving stories.

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