New Delhi. Filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani was the chairman of the Central Bureau of Film Certification from 2015 to 2017. Recently, he has opened up about his tenure. Pahlaj Nihalani alleged that Sharmila Tagore was the chairperson of the Censor Board before her and she passed a film without any cuts because it was her son Saif Ali Khan’s film.
Pahlaj Nihalani’s tenure as CBFC chairman was marred by controversies. Under his leadership, the Censor Board suggested about 100 cuts in the film ‘Udta Punjab’. In an interview given to Siddharth Kannan, Pahlaj Nihalani said, ‘I have never allowed myself to be pressured by the government. I have passed films only on merit. They did not want the ‘Udta Punjab’ title to pass and then I threatened to resign. I have no regrets. I did my work with full sincerity. Even today people appreciate my work at CBFC.
Pahlaj Nihalani accuses Sharmila Tagore
Pahlaj Nihalani said, ‘Saif Ali Khan’s film Omkara was released during Sharmila Tagore’s tenure. Meanwhile that film was passed. Omkara was passed over as Sharmila Tagore’s son Saif Ali Khan was in it. Boarders took bribes to pass some films without any cuts. Meanwhile the guidelines were not followed. During my tenure, I only ensured that the rules were followed.
Shah Rukh Khan agreed with the censors in the trailer
Apart from this, Pahlaj Nihalani also spoke about the censoring of the word intercourse in the trailer of Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’. He said, ‘I spoke to Shah Rukh Khan about this and he himself said that I asked him to send another version and he said ok, he agreed with it. However, there is no obscenity in his films.
Tags: entertainment news., Saif Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore
First published: May 26, 2024, 08:29 IST