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Nevertheless, large sections of India's upper castes are incensed over the quota policy, which ensures lower castes get spaces in the country's highly sought-after medical and engineering schools, universities and jobs. "Aarakshan" had created a buzz, with the films lead actors -- also including action hero Saif Ali Khan and Bollywood starlet Deepika Padukone
-- traveling the country to promote its release. In the film, Bachchan plays the idealistic head of a college who ends up being pushed out amid tensions between dalit and upper caste students over the quota system. With dalit groups saying the film is biased against the quota system, the government of Uttar Pradesh, India's biggest state, banned the film Wednesday. A day later, the governments of Punjab and Andhra Pradesh followed suit. The ban could cost the film more than 150 million rupees ($3.5 million) in earnings, as filmgoers were expected to crowd theaters over the long weekend, trade analysts said. A government panel for the welfare of lower castes also has asked the country's film authorities to review the clearance given to the film. "We have written to the Censor Board to review the film and remove at least five objectionable dialogues from the movie," said P. L. Punia, who heads the panel. "These changes can be made without affecting the narrative of the film."
[Associated
Press;
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