"Given the movie's theme, I certainly never expected that the board would give it a 'U' certificate, but I was sure it would receive a U/A certificate, " Bhandarkar told Tuesday.
Bhandarkar, who has co-produced the film with UTV Motion Pictures, describes "Fashion" as his most glamorous film. He roped in Priyanka Chopra, Kangna Ranaut, Arjan Bajwa and Mugdha Godse to do lead roles.
The board members, who saw the movie Monday in Mumbai, objected to six scenes including Priyanka and Arjan's lovemaking scenes and Priyanka and Kangana's dragging at drugs scenes. The members asked Bhandarkar and his co-producer, Ronnie Screwvala, to delete them from the movie.
As the director refused to delete the scenes, the board has given it an 'A' certificate.
The members refused to be convinced by Bhandarkar's argument that the scenes being objected to are an integral part of the movie and that yanking those off would mean compromising with the realistic depiction of the movie's subject.
"Although we had the option of appealing to the Revising Committee of the board against the Examining Committee's decision, we chose not to do so as that would have taken a lot of time. Besides, there was no knowing what would be the decision of the Board's higher committee, " Bhandarkar said.
"Fashion", which takes a close look at the other side of the fashion world, is due for release Oct 29.