After a series of critical and commercial failures, actor Akshay Kumar is geared up for a comeback of sorts with the satirical comedy-drama OMG 2. Written and directed by Amit Rai, the film also stars Pankaj Tripathi, Yami Gautam Dhar, Govind Namdev and Arun Govil in pivotal roles. OMG 2 is set to hit the screens on August 11.

Ahead of its release, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has issued an ‘A’ (Adults Only) certificate to the film, without suggesting any cuts, yet recommending more than 25 modifications.

OMG 2 tells the story of Kanti Sharan Mudgal, a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, residing in the temple town of Ujjain. During a critical moment, his god manifests before him and aids him in resolving the challenges he faces.

The makers of the film had dropped a one-minute-26-second teaser of the movie earlier this month, providing a glimpse of OMG 2’s world and introducing key characters, with Akshay playing Lord Shiva and actor Pankaj Tripathi in the role of a devotee. They also released a powerful track from the film a few days ago. Titled “Har Har Mahadev”, the song features Akshay Kumar in his Lord Shiva avatar, performing a powerful ‘tandav’. The track showcases a multitude of worshippers celebrating god as they dance to the high-octane tunes.

However, in the midst of all the preparations, OMG 2 recently ran into a controversy after a priest from Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar temple demanded the deletion of the scenes filmed at the shrine, as reported by news agency ANI. Mahesh Sharma, a priest of the Mahakaleshwar temple, said: “The censor board has given ‘A’ certificate to the film Oh My God 2. This certification is reserved for films that have adult content. We demand that some scenes, which were filmed at the Mahakal temple, be removed as they might offend the religious sentiments of viewers. If our demand isn’t met, we will launch protests across the country.”

Given the current phase of his career, Akshay Kumar appears to have made a prudent decision with OMG 2 as it functions as a stand-alone sequel to his 2012 blockbuster, OMG – Oh My God! His last movie, Raj Mehta’s Selfiee, proved to be a massive failure, grossing only Rs 24.6 crore worldwide despite being made with a budget exceeding Rs 100 crore.