Woody Allen pulls Blue Jasmine from Indian cinemas over anti-tobacco ad

Woody Allen has withdrawn his latest film Blue Jasmine from Indian release after it emerged that anti-smoking ads would be inserted into the film during scenes where characters are seen puffing on a cigarette. According to DNA, a regulation requires that a warning scroll is added to any scene containing smoking, as well the addition of anti-tobacco spots, that screens in Indian cinemas. The rule came into force in 2012. Blue Jasmine contains two scenes that would have triggered the warning spots (which otherwise would face being cut). PVR Pictures, Blue Jasmine's Indian distributor, had planned to show the film on 25-30 screens last weekend, but the film was pulled. Deepak Sharma, COO of PVR Pictures, said: "Allen has the creative control as per the agreement. He wasn't comfortable with the disclaimer that we are required to run when some smoking scene is shown in films. He feels that when the scroll comes, attention goes to it rather than the scene." "We had to abide by the law and we don't have control over the film." • More on Blue Jasmine