London: Chinese censors have removed the famous scene in which Kate Winslet poses naked from the new 3D version of Titanic over fears that audiences might reach out and try to touch the actor's body, the Hollywood Reporter says.

Titanic 3D opened with China's second-highest opening-day take ever, $7.3m (Dh26.8 million), on Tuesday, but many filmgoers were disappointed to discover the James Cameron film was not quite what they remembered.

An official at the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said it had removed sections of the scene in which Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack paints Winslet's Rose in the nude "to avoid potential conflicts between viewers and out of consideration of building a harmonious ethical social environment".

The official added: "Considering the vivid 3D effects, we fear that viewers may reach out their hands for a touch and thus interrupt other people's viewing."

Condemnation

Instead of seeing Winslet sprawled naked on a chaise lounge, Chinese viewers got a head-and-shoulders close-up. One commenter wrote on the internet: "I waited 15 years to see 3D b***s, not a 3D iceberg."

Titanic 3D has also topped the UK box office chart, with 2.8 million in ticket sales.