02 June,2026 01:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Obsession still
The box office hit Obsession was released in India on May 29. The film has taken the global box office by storm. Made on a modest budget of approximately Rs 7 crore (under 1 million dollars), the film has already emerged as one of the most profitable releases of 2026. According to reports, it has earned nearly 100 million dollars worldwide within days of its release. While the film is being celebrated worldwide, it faced the wrath of the censor board in India despite receiving an A certificate. However, days after its India release, the censored scene found its way onto social media.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) censored a violent scene from the film ahead of its India release. The move disappointed many moviegoers, who felt such censorship for an adults-only film was unnecessary. Some also pointed out that such cuts often encourage piracy. True to those concerns, the scene removed from the Indian version has now surfaced on social media.
The scene depicts a woman's head being repeatedly smashed against a car's steering wheel until her face is disfigured and she dies. The gruesome sequence unfolds in front of the film's male protagonist, who wishes for a woman to love him and only him.
A screenshot of Obsession leaked video
Despite receiving an A (Adults Only) certification, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly mandated the removal of 38 seconds of footage for its Indian release. The CBFC certificate indicates that the film's runtime is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. Standard anti-smoking, anti-tobacco, and anti-liquor disclaimers were also inserted where required. The most notable changes involved the reduction of 24 seconds of scenes featuring "extreme violence" and the complete removal of 14 seconds depicting "graphic sexual activity," resulting in a total of 38 seconds of footage being cut. A nude visual was also reportedly removed from the film.
Directed, written, and edited by filmmaker Curry Barker, Obsession stars Michael Johnston as Bear, a lonely music store employee who discovers a mysterious supernatural toy capable of granting wishes. His desire to make his childhood friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, fall in love with him unleashes terrifying consequences that spiral into psychological horror.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before receiving a theatrical release on May 15. Positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth quickly turned the low-budget horror film into a surprise box-office sensation. In North America alone, the film's second-weekend collections reportedly surged to nearly 22 million dollars, surpassing its opening weekend earnings , a rare achievement in modern box-office trends.
