Anurag Kashyap’s neo-noir thriller Kennedy is set to release in India after receiving an ‘A’ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Before granting certification, the censor board suggested several changes, prompting the removal and modification of certain references and language. The film, which stars Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, has already garnered attention at international film festivals, including Cannes in 2023 and the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, and will be available for Indian audiences on Zee5 on February 20.
According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the expletive ‘motherf***’ was muted in both the dialogues and subtitles. References to Donald Trump were altered to ‘Pump Trump’, while visuals of Dawood Ibrahim, along with the line “Dawood Ibrahim ne 1993 mein” were removed and replaced with the term ‘Pakistan Don’.
A 14-second sequence featuring a derogatory line that referenced Matunga was also deleted. Additionally, the makers were instructed to include anti-smoking disclaimers in all scenes depicting smoking. The film has a runtime of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 54 seconds (148 minutes, 54 seconds).
In recent months, Kennedy has achieved further recognition as the only Indian film selected for the launch lineup of Letterboxd’s Video Store in December 2025, although its streaming availability was limited to 23 countries, excluding India.
Kennedy will bypass a traditional theatrical release, premiering directly on the Zee5 streaming platform. Zee5 announced the release on social media with the statement, “System ne Kennedy ko ek hathiyaar banaya tha, par yeh woh hathiyaar hai, jo system se nahin apni marzi se chalta hai (The system had created Kennedy as a weapon, but this is a weapon that operates not at the system’s command, but according to its own will)! #Kennedy premieres 20th Feb, only on #ZEE5.”
The story of the filmcentres on Uday Shetty, a former police officer presumed dead. Under the alias Kennedy, he operates as a hitman in a fractured and corrupt system. The character grapples with insomnia, addiction, and personal turmoil, exploring themes of psychological struggle, violence, and a desperate search for redemption.
