Pahlaj Nihalani Passes Away At 76: Producer, CBFC Chief And A Figure Who Often Made Headlines

Pahlaj Nihalani, film producer and ex CBFC chairman, passed away at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack. He spent more than four decades in the Hindi film industry, first as a producer and later as one of the most discussed figures in film certification.

Early Life

Pahlaj Nihalani was born in Karachi before Partition. After the Partition, his family moved to India. He eventually entered the film industry and started his journey as a producer.

Film Career

Nihalani produced several Hindi films during the 1980s and 1990s, including Haathkadi, Aandhi-Toofan, Ilzaam, Aag Hi Aag, Shola Aur Shabnam and Aankhen.

He is also known for introducing actors like Govinda and Chunky Pandey as lead heroes. Over the years, he became a familiar name in commercial Hindi cinema.

In 2012, he directed his first film, Avatar, starring Govinda.

Political Views

Before the 2014 General Elections, Nihalani created a promotional video in support of Narendra Modi. The video received attention and kept him in the public discussion beyond films.

CBFC Chairman

In January 2015, Pahlaj Nihalani became the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

During his tenure, he supported stricter censorship rules and often spoke against profanity, nudity and sexual content in films. He believed filmmakers should be careful about the content shown to audiences.

Controversies During CBFC Tenure

His time at the CBFC led to several debates within the film industry.

One of the major controversies came with 2016’s Udta Punjab, when the censor board suggested multiple cuts. The matter reached court and later became a major discussion around censorship and creative freedom in Indian cinema.

He also faced criticism for shortening scenes in international films, objecting to certain dialogues and words in Hindi films, and for comments he made regarding film content and certification.

In 2017, he drew attention after objecting to the use of the word “intercourse” in the trailer of Jab Harry Met Sejal.

Many filmmakers disagreed with his decisions, while others supported his approach. His tenure regularly remained in the news because of these discussions.

Removal From CBFC

In August 2017, Nihalani was replaced as CBFC chairman by Prasoon Joshi.

Even after leaving the position, he continued speaking on issues related to films, censorship and the entertainment industry.

Legacy

Whether people agreed with him or not, Pahlaj Nihalani remained a significant part of conversations around Hindi cinema for many years.

From producing commercial films and launching actors to leading the country’s film certification body during a period of major debates, he witnessed several phases of Bollywood.

With his passing, the industry loses a producer and former CBFC chief whose work and decisions remained part of film discussions for decades.

Om Shanti.