MUMBAI: The Censor Board has passed Shemaroo Entertainment‘s Ishqiya without any cuts with an ‘A‘ certificate.

Set in western Uttar Pradesh, the film is a tale of romance between individuals caught in a web of crime, suspense, passion and deceit. Two thieves, Khalujan and Babban are on the run from their boss, Mushtaq (Salman Shahid).

They tend to seek refuge with an old friend but instead meet his widow, Krishna (Vidya Balan). As they plan their escape, their time spent together draws the duo to her, Khalujan with his vision of old-fashioned love and Babban with his lascivious heart.

The film, directed by Abhishek Chaubey, has Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi, Salman Shahid and Vidya Balan as the main protagonists of the film.

Says Shemaroo director Hiren Gada, ‘‘ Being an adult subject, we were expecting an ‘A‘ certificate. At the same time, we were expecting some cuts that would seem objectionable to the Board.

"But when we found that there was not a word on the language and neither was any cut effected, we knew that the Board was well aware of the language that was spoken in that region of UP."

The film is set to release on 29 January.