Verity gets ‘A’ certificate in India after CBFC cuts 23 seconds of intimate scenes

Verity, starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, gets an ‘A’ certificate in India after CBFC cuts 23 seconds of intimate scenes and makes other changes

Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson’s Verity will arrive in Indian theatres with an ‘A’ certificate after undergoing cuts by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The psychological thriller, directed by Michael Showalter, was cleared on September 29, ahead of its October 2 theatrical release.

Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson’s Verity

According to Bollywood Hungama, the CBFC’s Examining Committee asked the makers to “suitably modify” intimate visuals and remove explicit portions, leading to 23 seconds being cut. Much of the deleted footage reportedly comes from the film’s much-discussed make-out sequence featuring Hathaway and Johnson.

The board also ordered anti-smoking and anti-alcohol static warnings wherever applicable, removed visuals of an e-cigarette and directed the makers to blur a medicine brand name. The final runtime is 118 minutes and 41 seconds, with paid previews scheduled for October 1.

Based on Colleen Hoover’s 2018 novel, Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson), a struggling writer hired to complete injured author Verity Crawford’s bestselling series. Her stay with the Crawford family takes a disturbing turn after she discovers a hidden manuscript containing shocking revelations about Verity’s past. Josh Hartnett also stars.