Kennedy on OTT: From 'Pump Trump' to 'Pakistan Don', CBFC hurdles behind the India release of Anurag Kashyap film

Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy hits ZEE5 tomorrow after three years. Despite Cannes' success, the noir thriller faced heavy CBFC cuts to political and underworld references before its Indian digital debut.

Kennedy poster

Anurag Kashyap's neo-noir thriller Kennedy will finally have its official Indian premiere tomorrow, February 20, after a three-year journey via various international film festivals and a complicated domestic certification process. The movie, which features Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone, will have its Indian debut on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium).

Why was Kennedy’s domestic release delayed?

The film's release has experienced significant delays. Initially brought to the world's notice in May 2023, Kennedy had its world premiere in the Midnight Screenings section of the Cannes Film Festival. It had not been chosen for that particular category for an Indian film in quite some time. The next year, it had a prominent local screening at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, but the film's commercial release in India was delayed multiple times, despite its early momentum.

While Kennedy was approved with an "A" (Adults Only) certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the approval was contingent upon numerous mandated alterations. The examining committee directed the silencing of certain profanities in the audio and subtitles, as stated in the official censorship report that was finalised on November 23, 2023.

ALSO READ: Kennedy on OTT: From Rahul Bhat's quiet rage to Sunny Leone's transformation, 5 reasons to watch Anurag Kashyap's darkest noir

Which political and underworld references were altered in Kennedy?

References to politics and the criminal underworld were also intended to be changed. "Pump Trump" was instructed by the board to be used in lieu of "Donald Trump" in the film. Furthermore, the fugitive mobster Dawood Ibrahim was erased from sight and spoken about entirely. The moniker was changed to "Pakistan Don" in a scene that alludes to the 1993 blasts in Mumbai.

Additionally, the entire 14-second segment from the first half that had the words "Matunga, Matunga...Pungi bajaao" was cut. All scenes involving tobacco use were also required to have standard anti-smoking static messaging added.

What is the plot and runtime of Kennedy?

Kennedy follows Bhat, an insomniac ex-cop, as he strives to remain undetected in a Mumbai devastated by COVID-19. The film's total certified runtime is 148.54 minutes, which is equal to two hours, 28 minutes, and 54 seconds. He keeps working as a professional killer for a crooked police commissioner even though everyone thinks he's dead. The story follows a man as he does "dirty work" in a luxury app-based cab and investigates the moral decline of the city's administrative institutions.

The film was shot under a shortened 30-day timeframe, according to Anurag Kashyap. Originating during the pandemic lockdown, the project takes its cues from the "police noir" genre and centres on the psychological impact of the protagonist's dual identity. Charlie, played by Leone, is a woman managing a predatory, male-dominated society while pretending to laugh it off.

What was Kennedy's unique international distribution strategy?

While the film's Indian release was in limbo for years, it took an unusual route to distribution in other countries. When Letterboxd's Video Store debuted in December 2025, Kennedy was the sole Indian title chosen for the launch. This collaboration facilitated the film's TVOD viewing in 23 countries, notably excluding India from the initial rollout.

The domestic audience now had a timeframe with the announcement of the ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium) premiere in January 2026. One of the most talked-about Indian festival films of the decade finally makes its mainstream debut tomorrow on the streaming platform, ending nearly three years of anticipation for fans of Kashyap's work.

Kennedy FAQs:

Q: When is the Kennedy movie release date in India?

A: Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy is scheduled to premiere in India on February 20, 2026. After a three-year wait following its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, the film will be released directly on the digital streaming platform ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium).

Q: Who is in the cast of Kennedy?

A: Kennedy stars Rahul Bhat as the titular hitman and Sunny Leone as Charlie, a mysterious woman navigating a predatory world. The supporting cast includes Mohit Takalkar as the corrupt Commissioner Rasheed Khan and Abhilash Thapliyal.

Q: What is the plot of Kennedy?

A: Kennedy follows Uday Shetty (played by Rahul Bhat), an insomniac ex-policeman who is officially presumed dead. Living a double life in a COVID-ravaged Mumbai, he works as an assassin for a corrupt police commissioner under the alias "Kennedy." The story explores his search for redemption and the moral decay of the city's system.

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