Govinda, Farhan Akhtar, Shatrughan Sinha, others attend last rites of Pahlaj Nihalani
Mumbai, June 4
The last rites of the late filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani were held at the Santa Cruz crematorium in Mumbai on Thursday, and the film industry turned up in huge numbers to pay their final respects to the departed soul.
Actors Govinda, Farhan Akhtar, Shatrughan Sinha, Varun Dhawan, Govind Namdev, Kunal Kapoor, producers Ramesh Taurani, Boney Kapoor, and actress Neelam Kothari attended the last rites.
Filmmakers Anees Bazmee, Madhur Bhandarkar, Sunil Darshan, David Dhawan, his son, Rohit Dhawan, actress Malaika Arora, and actor Saif Ali Khan also bid adieu to Pahlaj Nihalani. The filmmaker passed away at the age of 76 following prolonged illness.
Pahlaj Nihalani, who is often dubbed as the most controversial chief of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), has been a familiar name in the Hindi film industry for decades. He began his journey as a film producer in the early 1980s after he branched out from the hotel industry. He was also a member of the Hotel Owners Association. His maiden production, Haathkadi was released in 1982, followed by Aandhi-Toofan in 1985. He produced 'Ilzaam' which marked the foray of Govinda. A year later, he produced Aag Hi Aag, which introduced Chunky Pandey to Hindi cinema.
His tenure as the CBFC chief generated widespread discussion over censorship, certification policies and creative freedom in Indian films particularly for 'Udta Punjab'. During this period, several certification decisions drew attention from filmmakers and audiences alike. Beyond his work in production and regulation, he has been an influential figure in the Hindi film industry, contributing to both its commercial and institutional landscape.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The 'Udta Punjab' controversy was something else! He really stirred the pot as CBFC chief. But you have to respect his journey from hotel business to producing some iconic films. May his soul rest in peace.
He was a polarising figure, no doubt. While I disagreed with many of his censorship decisions, especially on 'Udta Punjab', it takes courage to stand by your convictions in an industry that often shields dissenters. Bollywood lost a strong personality today. 🕊️
He gave us gems like 'Ilzaam' and 'Aandhi-Toofan' – real masala movies! True, his CBFC tenure was controversial, but as a producer, he backed new talent like Govinda and Chunky Pandey. That's a legacy too. RIP sir 🙏
Whether you loved or hated him, Pahlaj Nihalani was undeniably a key figure in Hindi cinema. The turnout at his funeral says it all – from Govinda to Farhan Akhtar. Shows how much the industry respected him despite the fights. Om Shanti 🙏
Controversial CBFC chief for sure, but let's remember his contribution to filmmaking too. 'Aag Hi Aag' introduced Chunky Pandey! That's Bollywood trivia right there. RIP Mr. Nihalani – you left a mark like few others did. 🌹
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