STRDEL via Getty Images Indian Bollywood actor and director Mukesh Khanna looks on during the first beauty & hair industry Lifetime Achievement Awards in Mumbai on late March 24, 2014. AFP PHOTO / STR (Photo credit should read STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)

Mukesh Khanna, best remembered for playing Shaktimaan, the Indian superhero, has come out in support of CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani amid the ongoing controversy over multiple cuts in Shahid Kapur's Udta Punjab.

Defending Nihalani's decision about the several cuts the CBFC suggested to the censor board, Khanna said that films in our country should go through censoring to filter out offensive content.

Criticizing the choice of movies directors make, Khanna went on to say that movies like Grand Masti (2013) runs in India and become a superhit.

“I differ from people who say we have freedom of expression. If due to your freedom of expression, our students are going wayward and the landscape of our country’s security is being altered, I would stop them. There has to be censorship. You can’t make anything. I am against it. Here in our country a film like Grand Masti runs and becomes a superhit. People say it’s their freedom of expression. My foot. One should make good films,” said Khanna.

“Pahlajji is not wrong in certain things. When it is needed, it is needed. Don’t call him sanskari. Sanskar nahi rahenge toh aap bhi nahi rahoge (without cultural value system, even you won’t exist),” Indian Express quoted Khanna saying.

The actor who was attending an award ceremony, when asked about Udta Punjab row said,“I have not seen the film so I can’t say if it’s good or bad. But bad things, if any, have to stop. Drug menace is spread all over India. Drugs are mixed with ice cream and sold to children outside schools. Why is that not being stopped? Police doesn’t know? Everyone knows about it.”

Yesterday the Bombay High Court has indicated it will allow the release of the filmUdta Punjab, that allegedly portrays the state's drug problem, with only one cut, out of the 13 the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) suggested, paving the way for its smooth launch on 17 June. However, the court has reserved its final order for Monday, 13 June.