Veteran film producer and former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani passed away on Thursday at the age of 76, his longtime friend Shashi Ranjan confirmed.
Born on January 10, 1950, Nihalani began his journey in the Hindi film industry as a producer with the 1982 film 'Haathkadi'. Over the years, he established himself as a prominent figure in Bollywood and played a key role in launching the careers of several actors.
He is best remembered for giving actor Govinda his first major breakthrough with the 1986 hit 'Ilzaam'. A year later, Nihalani introduced actor Chunky Panday to audiences with 'Aag Hi Aag'. His filmography as a producer also includes popular titles such as 'Shola Aur Shabnam', 'Aankhen', 'Dil Tera Diwana', 'Talaash' and 'Rangeela Raja'.
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In January 2015, Nihalani was appointed chairperson of the CBFC, a position he held until August 2017. His tenure was marked by frequent controversies and debates over censorship, with several filmmakers publicly challenging his decisions regarding film certification, cuts, and mandatory disclaimers.
During his time at the helm of the censor board, Nihalani introduced stricter guidelines that prohibited certain expletives even in films certified for adult audiences. He also ordered edits to kissing scenes and advocated restrictions on content that could potentially offend religious sentiments or portray excessive violence. While many members of the film industry criticised his approach as overly restrictive, Nihalani consistently defended his actions, stating that he was carrying out his responsibilities in accordance with the board’s mandate.
Paying tribute to the former CBFC chief, current chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati expressed his condolences in a post on X. “Heartfelt condolences from the entire CBFC family on the demise of former CBFC Chairperson Shri Pahlaj Nihalani,” he wrote. Nihalani is survived by his wife, Nita Nihalani, and their three sons. His last rites will be performed at the Santacruz Hindu Crematorium.
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