The final rites of filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani took place at the Santa Cruz crematorium in Mumbai. A large number of film industry personalities gathered to bid farewell to him. Celebrities like Govinda, Farhan Akhtar, Shatrughan Sinha, Varun Dhawan, and others paid their respects at the ceremony.
Filmmakers including Anees Bazmee, Madhur Bhandarkar, and David Dhawan, along with actors like Saif Ali Khan, were also present to say goodbye to Pahlaj Nihalani. Known for his controversial tenure as the chief of the Central Board of Film Certification, Nihalani had a significant impact on the Indian film industry. He passed away at the age of 76 after battling a prolonged illness.
Pahlaj Nihalani, a prominent figure in Bollywood for decades, started his career as a film producer in the early 1980s. He ventured into production with movies like ‘Haathkadi’ and ‘Aandhi-Toofan’. Nihalani’s role as the CBFC chief sparked debates on censorship and creative freedom in Indian cinema, with films like ‘Udta Punjab’ stirring controversy. Apart from his regulatory role, he played a key part in shaping the commercial and institutional aspects of Hindi cinema.
