Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan’s upcoming spy comedy Udta Teer has been denied a public screening permit in Nepal. The decision landed just days before the film is due in cinemas on October 23, 2026.
What Nepal’s censor board decided
Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology refused exhibition permission after the Central Film Censor Board reviewed the film. The board found that the production did not comply with Section 8(3) of the National Cinema (Production, Exhibition and Distribution) Act, 2026.
A formal notice was sent to National Cinema Group Nepal Pvt. Ltd. in Aloknagar, Kathmandu. Signed by branch officer Vishal Bhandari, the letter is dated 2083-06-30 in the Nepali calendar and carries the subject line “Regarding permission for public exhibition.” Authorities have not yet explained the exact objection.
For Nepal-based viewers, that means the film will not appear on public screens for now. The India release remains unchanged, so Indian audiences can still plan for the October 23 opening.
The film behind the ruling
Udta Teer follows Bilal Ahmad, played by Ayushmann, a Pakistani spy who enters India and loses his memory after an accident. He wakes up believing he is an Indian spy, and that confusion drives the film’s spy-comedy chaos.
At the trailer launch, Ayushmann called the project a spy comedy, a patriotic comedy and a genre bender. He said he was willing to do what the script demanded, describing himself as a director’s baby and the script as fantastic. He also called the role his most difficult because he had to keep a straight face while the comedy around him kept threatening to break it.
Why the timing matters
Nepal is a regular international market for Hindi films, so a censor block this close to release narrows the film’s reach across the border. The uncertainty may also push the conversation from the film’s content to its access, days before a major opening.
What makes the move notable is its timing. The refusal arrived before the opening weekend, which at least leaves room for the distributor to respond rather than reacting after screens have already been lost.
For now, the move is a distribution hurdle rather than a permanent ban. The distributor can seek clarity from Nepal’s authorities or challenge the decision. We will track whether the release window changes.
- Nepal has refused a public exhibition permit for Udta Teer.
- The censor board cited Section 8(3) of the National Cinema Act, 2026.
- India’s release remains set for October 23, 2026.
- The exact reason for the objection has not been disclosed.
Akash A Kaushik makes his directorial debut with the film. The cast also includes Rahul Bose, Ram Kapoor, Suhail Nayyar, Gulshan Grover, Mukul Dev, Raghubir Yadav, Brijendra Kala, Sandeep Anand, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Smita Tambe.
The headline for fans is straightforward: Udta Teer is cleared for India, but grounded in Nepal until further notice.
Source: Hindustan Times
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