The controversy arose when the Punjab Film Censor Board withheld the issuance of a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the movie. Reports of a possible ban started circulating online, and some movie-goers claimed they were asked for ticket refunds as the film stopped screening midway. Key cinemas in Lahore, the provincial capital, including Cue Cinemas, Cine Star, and Universal Cinemas, did not show the movie, fueling further speculation.
The objectionable content in question reportedly included dialogues perceived to promote homosexuality, a sensitive and prohibited topic in Pakistan. The film was eventually allowed to screen after these dialogues were removed, but this decision was met with criticism. Critics argued that such censorship displayed intolerance towards LGBTQ+ content and appeasement of conservative religious groups.
Interestingly, the local distributor HKC Entertainment initially resisted the censor board's demand to alter the dialogues but eventually acquiesced, leading to the movie's release in Punjab. It's worth noting that the film faced no cuts in other regions of Pakistan, such as Sindh and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
This incident is not an isolated case, as Pakistan has a history of banning films that challenge cultural norms or are perceived to contradict the country's social, cultural, and religious values. For example, in November 2022, the film 'Joyland' was banned nationwide due to its LGBTQ+ content. Likewise, in 2019, the film 'Zindagi Tamasha' faced a ban after its director was accused of blasphemy by a far-right religious party.
The temporary ban on 'Barbie' sparked criticism on social media, with users questioning the reasoning behind the decision. Some highlighted that the film did not explicitly feature LGBTQ+ content, while others condemned the perceived intolerance towards content that challenges societal norms.