Veteran filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani passed away. According to reports, the former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson was admitted to Nanavati Hospital during the early hours of Thursday morning.
Reportedly, he was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. For the past month, Pahlaj was reportedly struggling with his health. Further details on his final rites are yet to be disclosed. The news of his demise was confirmed by Shashi Ranjan. Pahlaj is survived by his wife, Nita and sons Vishal Nihalani and Chirag Nihalani.
Pahlaj Nihalani dies at 76
Confirming the news of Pahlaj’s demise, Shashi told News9 Digital, “Pahlaj ji was not keeping well. He was taken home from Nanavati Hospital, where he breathed his last.” His family is yet to issue an official statement.
Who was Pahlaj Nihalani
Besides serving as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), from 2015 to 2017, Nihalani was also the president of the Association of Motion Picture and TV Programme Producers for close to 30 years. During his tenure as the CBFC chief, he sparked many controversies involving films like Udta Punjab, Lipstick Under My Burkha, and Spectre.
Before becoming the CBFC chief, Pahlaj gave Govinda his big break in Ilzaam (1986). Chunky Panday also debuted in Aag Hi Aag (1987), produced by Pahlaj. His film Aankhen, starring Govinda and Chunky, became the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1993. In recent years, Nihalani remained active in the film industry through production and distribution ventures, with projects including Julie 2 and Rangeela Raja.
Pahlaj Nihalani as CBFC chairperson
As the CBFC chairperson, Nihalani circulated a list of 34 words that filmmakers were advised not to use in films in 2015. This decision triggered backlash from filmmakers and even some CBFC members, who argued that he had exceeded his authority. The proposal was eventually withdrawn after strong opposition.
Many Hindi films, such as Aligarh, Unfreedom, Indu Sarkar, Ka Bodyscapes, and Babumoshai Bandookbaaz, landed in certification disputes during his tenure, drawing further criticism towards the CBFC for acting more like a censor than a certification body.
One of the biggest controversies was when Udta Punjab faced extreme scrutiny. Under his tenure, the CBFC initially demanded around 89-94 cuts, along with the removal of references to Punjab, drugs, politics, and profanity. Many filmmakers challenged the decision in court, and the Bombay High Court eventually cleared the film with only one cut and disclaimers.