Bade pet wala Ganpati…,’ ‘Bodybuilder Hanuman…’ and ‘Tigerwali (Sherawali Maa)…’ That’s how Paresh Rawal’s character describes Hindu deities in the opening minutes of the trailer of OMG! Oh My God, which also features Akshay Kumar as Lord Krishna. That’s probably what got the Censor
Board worried.

“The censors had some reservations about the dialogue. They had pre-conceived notions that OMG is against religion and Gods, which I feel is because of hearsay and media reports,” says director Umesh Shukla, who spent hours convincing the board why the film needed those lines.

“Thankfully, when I explained the film to them, they understood my point of view. I am happy that they eventually passed the trailer without any cuts. I had shown them the Censor certificate that I had got for my play.” The film is based on Umesh’s hit theatrical, Kishan Vs Kanhaiya, which also stars Paresh in the lead. “When we talk about bodybuilders, the first name that comes to mind is Hanumanji and not Arnold Schwarzenegger. Our intention was not demeaning at all.”

They board finally congratulated Umesh on the ‘enlightening’ trailer. “I am sure they will love the film,” he says, confident. OMG revolves around an antique store owner called Kanjibhai (Rawal), who moves court against God. It releases on September 28.