Badhaai Do to release in UAE; country previously banned Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan for LGBTQ references

Badhaai Do will soon be making its way to UAE theatres, a country known for prohibiting the release of films will LGBTQ references.

Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar star in this dramedy as two queer individuals who enter a lavender marriage to avoid societal pressure. 

According to IANS, the film will be available in all of UAE except Sharjah. Badhaai Do will also have night shows and cinemas will only permit adults above the age of 21 years of age to watch it. 

In February 2020, Reuters had reported that Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar's Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan was prohibited from releasing in the predominantly Muslim country, where same-sex relationships are illegal. 

Chloe Zhao-directed Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals was banned last year in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan for the makers refused to omit certain scenes that depicted a gay relationship. However, it was allowed to be released in the UAE.

Similarly, the new adaptation of West Side Story starring Ansel Elgort was not granted release permission in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait last year. 

Badhaai Do, a spiritual successort to Badhaai Ho, also stars Seema Pahwa and Sheeba Chaddha. It is the first Bollywood film to be out in theatres after the third wave of the pandemic.