‘The Apprentice’ director Ali Abbasi upset over India’s censorship as film not released

Director Ali Abbasi attends a press conference for ‘The Apprentice’ in competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. | Photo credit: Stephen Mahe

apprentice, Based on the early life of former US President Donald Trump, it missed its India release. Directed by Ali Abbasi, the film stars Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. The movie is set to hit the screens on October 18, 2024.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanded cuts from the movie, which the makers refused to do. Abbasi condemned censorship, calling it an epidemic. Certain scenes mentioned by CBFC are important to the plot, Hollywood movie makers argue.

“I do not know what is wrong with these people! I escaped Iranian censorship only to meet US corporate censorship. Now India! Really? Censorship seems to be an epidemic right now. We need a vaccine!,” Abbasi wrote X.

Also read:‘The Apprentice’ trailer: Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong star in mentorship that shaped Donald Trump

Reports said that CBFC had demanded to cut some sexual scenes from the movie. One of the scenes apparently shows Trump “dumping” Ivana Trump (Trump’s ex-wife) and going to sexually assault her. Amid the censorship row, the uncut version was reportedly screened in Mumbai on October 16, 2024 to a limited audience.

The Indian Censor Board was recently in the news for blocking the release monkey man, Starring and directed by Dev Patel. The CBFC, while apparently not banning the film, prevented the action thriller from releasing in India. The film’s political content is said to be the reason for the delay.

Meanwhile, apprentice Trump’s lawyers have been the subject of a major controversy, with the film calling it “garbage” and “malicious”. Trump described apprentice As a fake movie on him.

In the film, Sebastian Stan plays the young Trump, with Jeremy Strong playing his infamous mentor Roy Cohn. Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, apprentice From attending glamorous parties with Ivana Trump to hyping his real estate venture, Maria Bacalova showcases Trump’s life in the fast lane.