Verity gets CBFC 'A' certificate after 23 seconds of intimate scene deleted

Hollywood thriller Verity has been passed by the Central Board of Film Certification with an 'A' certificate after its makers made a series of changes sought by the board, Bollywood Hungama reported on 30 September 2026. Those changes included deleting 23 seconds from an intimate scene after the Examining Committee asked for the visuals to be "suitably modify" by removing explicit portions.

For Indian audiences, the certified version will run for 1 hour, 58 minutes and 41 seconds, according to the length recorded on the censor certificate and reported by Bollywood Hungama. The film was passed on 29 September after the required modifications were made, ahead of paid previews on the evening of 1 October and its full release on 2 October.

Verity CBFC decision: key facts

• Bollywood Hungama reported that the CBFC has passed Verity with an 'A' certificate.
• The Examining Committee asked the makers to modify intimate visuals, resulting in 23 seconds being deleted.
• Bollywood Hungama reported, citing sources, that most of the deleted footage was from a make-out sequence involving Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson.
• The certified runtime is 118.41 minutes, or 1 hour, 58 minutes and 41 seconds.
• Verity will have paid previews on the evening of 1 October before its full release on 2 October.
• The film stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett.

What the CBFC changed in Verity for its India release

According to Bollywood Hungama, the most substantial content change concerned an intimate scene. The CBFC's Examining Committee asked the makers to "suitably modify" the visuals by removing the explicit portions, leading to a total deletion of 23 seconds.

Bollywood Hungama, citing sources, reported that most of the removed portion came from a make-out sequence between Hathaway and Johnson. The publication did not describe the deleted material beyond that, and the certified Indian version reflects the changes requested during the examination process.

The CBFC also required other modifications. Bollywood Hungama reported that an anti-smoking and anti-alcohol static message was inserted in all shots where characters were shown smoking or consuming alcohol. Visuals of an e-cigarette were ordered to be deleted, while the brand name of a medicine was required to be blurred.

Verity received an 'A' certificate after the required modifications

Once the specified changes had been completed, the CBFC passed Verity on 29 September, Bollywood Hungama reported. The resulting classification is an 'A' certificate, meaning the version cleared for Indian cinemas is the modified cut submitted after the Examining Committee's directions were addressed.

Bollywood Hungama said the censor certificate records the film's length as 118.41 minutes, which corresponds to 1 hour, 58 minutes and 41 seconds. That is the version Indian audiences will see when the film begins its paid previews and theatrical run.

The certification process in this case involved both content edits and on-screen messaging requirements. Bollywood Hungama's report distinguishes between the deleted visuals, the removal of e-cigarette imagery, the blurred medicine brand name and the addition of statutory messages to relevant smoking and alcohol shots.

Verity India release and certification timeline

Stage	Detail
CBFC changes	23 seconds deleted from an intimate scene, e-cigarette visuals removed, medicine brand blurred and statutory messages added
CBFC clearance	29 September 2026
Certificate	'A'
Certified runtime	118.41 minutes, or 1 hour, 58 minutes and 41 seconds
Paid previews	Evening of 1 October
Full release	2 October

Verity adapts Colleen Hoover's 2018 novel

The Hollywood Reporter said Verity is based on Colleen Hoover's 2018 novel and is directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay by Nick Antosca. Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, while Anne Hathaway plays bestselling author Verity Crawford and Josh Hartnett plays Verity's husband, Jeremy Crawford.

The story follows a struggling writer who is asked to complete a novel by a bestselling author after the latter slips into a coma, according to Bollywood Hungama. The Hollywood Reporter also reported that Hathaway served as a producer on the film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Verity is Hoover's fourth book-to-screen adaptation, and Hoover was present throughout the production. The film adds another 2026 release to Hathaway's slate, with Bollywood Hungama also listing The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey and The End Of Oak Street among her releases during the year.

How the Verity decision compares with recent CBFC action on Dhurandhar

The Verity certification comes amid other recent CBFC decisions involving modifications for different exhibition formats. In a separate report on 30 September, Bollywood Hungama said the board ordered 45-50 cuts for the television premiere of Dhurandhar The Revenge and that its U/A 16+ television version was 10 minutes shorter.

The Indian Express reported the same Dhurandhar development, saying Dhurandhar 2 had its runtime reduced by 10 minutes for television after CBFC cuts involving 45-50 "violent scenes". The reports concern a television version rather than the theatrical certification process applied to Verity, making the two cases distinct in format and requested changes.

Together, the reports show two recent examples in which CBFC examination resulted in altered versions being cleared for Indian audiences. In Verity's case, Bollywood Hungama reported an 'A' theatrical certificate after specified edits and additions. In the Dhurandhar case, Bollywood Hungama and The Indian Express reported a shorter U/A 16+ television version following a larger number of cuts.

What Indian audiences will see when Verity opens

The version opening in India will therefore include the CBFC-directed modifications documented by Bollywood Hungama: 23 seconds removed from the intimate sequence, deletion of e-cigarette visuals, blurring of a medicine brand name and anti-smoking and anti-alcohol static messages in relevant scenes.

Bollywood Hungama reported that paid previews will take place on the evening of 1 October, with the full theatrical release following on 2 October. The certified runtime stands at 1 hour, 58 minutes and 41 seconds.

The film's Indian release will bring together Hathaway, Johnson and Hartnett in Michael Showalter's adaptation of Hoover's novel, while its certification provides a fresh example of how the CBFC's examination process can result in specific modifications before a film is cleared for exhibition.

Frequently asked questions

What CBFC certificate did Verity receive in India?

Bollywood Hungama reported that the CBFC passed Verity with an 'A' certificate on 29 September 2026. The certificate was issued after the makers carried out the changes requested by the Examining Committee, including removing 23 seconds from an intimate scene and making several other visual and messaging modifications.

What was cut from Verity for its Indian release?

Bollywood Hungama reported that 23 seconds were deleted from an intimate scene after the CBFC asked for explicit portions to be removed. Citing sources, the outlet said most of that deleted footage came from a make-out sequence involving Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, without describing the removed material further.

How long is the CBFC-certified version of Verity?

According to Bollywood Hungama, the censor certificate records Verity at 118.41 minutes, equivalent to 1 hour, 58 minutes and 41 seconds. This certified version includes the changes required by the CBFC and is the version scheduled for paid previews on 1 October and full release on 2 October.

Who stars in Verity and what is the film about?

Verity stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett. Bollywood Hungama says the story follows a struggling writer asked to complete a bestselling author's novel after the author falls into a coma. The Hollywood Reporter identified Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, Hathaway as Verity Crawford and Hartnett as Jeremy Crawford.