Top 10 Bollywood Films That Had To Get Their Titles Changed Prior To Their Release

Deciding on a title that aptly suits a film's plotline is no easy task. Mostly, it is the writers who come up with titles for films, but if the title doesn't sound perfect, then the film members will change it. A film's title should be catchy and short. Most people try to find the movie's plotline via the title itself. This shows how important it is to choose a title wisely. Many movie titles of Indian films have caused controversies and violence through boycotts and protests. While some protests have a proper cause, others are just baseless and unnecessary. Some people have even resorted to violence against those involved in the films. Here are the top 10 Bollywood films that had to get their titles changed before their release.

1. Laxmmi Bomb To Laxmii

Akshay-Kumar starrer Laxmmi Bomb had to change its name to Laxmii after Shri Rajput Karni Sena sent a legal notice to the filmmakers. According to them, the film's title disrespects the Hindu goddess Lakshmi by adding it after a bomb. This hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community. They demanded a change in the movie's title.

2. Padmavati To Padmaavat

Sanjay Leela Bhansali chose to go with the title Padmavati for his period drama film. But violent protests taking place in various parts of India to Sanjay Leela Bhansali being attacked on sets forced them to change the film’s title. Many Rajput caste organizations like Shri Rajput Karni Sena protested against the film’s title. They claimed that it invalidates the Rajput queen Padmavati. The film's release was delayed many times due to such protests. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has approved the movie with minor changes along with a change in the title.

3. Mental Hai Kya To Judgementall Hai Kya

The Rajkummar Rao and Kangana Ranaut starrer film's initial title Mental Hai Kya was felt to be insensitive to the mentally disabled people. This, followed by criticism from the Indian Psychiatric Society, forced the makers to change the film’s title.

4. Raamleela To Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela

Way before Padmavat, Sanjay Leela Bhansali faced criticism and opposition for his film's title. It was changed to Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela as the title will commonly be associated with Lord Ram, and the audience will expect a religious movie when in reality, it is a modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragic play Romeo and Juliet.

5. Elastic To Love Aaj Kal

Director Imtiaz Ali felt that relationships are elastic and that the more we stretch them apart, the more will be the tension to come together. He later changed the title of the Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer to Love Aaj Kal.

6. Window Seat To Tamasha

Imtiaz Ali also revealed in an interview that Tamasha was initially titled Window Seat. The film was also promoted with a train journey. Reportedly, not Deepika Padukone but Anushka Sharma was the first choice for Tara's role.

7. Loveratri To Loveyatri

The debut movie of Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain was changed to Loveyatri by the makers because an FIR was filed against Salman Khan for hurting the religious sentiments of a Hindu community because it sounds familiar to the Hindu festival Navratri.

8. Mental To Jai Ho

The Telugu film Stalin was announced to be remade as Mental, starring Salman Khan. But later, it was changed to Jai Ho as the former title was disrespectful towards the mentally challenged.

9. Haseena: The Queen Of Mumbai To Haseena Parker

The film starring Shraddha Kapoor in the lead role got its title changed from Haseena: The Queen Of Mumbai to Haseena Parker as the director Apoorva Lakhia felt that it is better to use Haseena Parker's name directly in the title as it is a biography.

10. Rambo Rajkumar To R... Rajkumar

The original title of R... Rajkumar was Rambo Rajkumar but the Hollywood movie Rambo had the title reserved to them. This led to a change in the film's title and the name of Shahid Kapoor's character.