Former CBFC Chief Pahlaj Nihalani’s tenure at the film certification board was a bumpy ride. The man faced many controversies or he created some due to his firm judgments about certain aspects of films. Now that he has been replaced from his position by Prasoon Joshi, many filmmakers have expressed their delight openly or indirectly. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap who has always been vocal about all the happenings expressed his happiness about the departure of the former chief. BollywoodMDB had earlier informed our readers how Kashyap responded to the reshuffle news.
Pahlaj Nihalani, Anurag KashyapNow, Nihalani also reacted to the filmmaker’s expression of happiness on his exit. He also added that he is surprised to see the reaction of others who seemed double faced. In an exclusive media interaction posted by NDTV, Pahlaj Nihlani expressed himself to the fullest. Here is what he stated:
“Let me make one thing clear. The CBFC guidelines do not stipulate that films should not be cut. Yet I was pressurized from the top to not cut, only certify. The CBFC is a confused organization. We need progressive guidelines. Without them, we are stuck in a time-warp,” Pahlaj ji said.
Talking about the filmmaker’s reaction, he said, “I can understand Anurag Kashyap feeling happy about my departure from the CBFC. He has been openly campaigning against my tenure as the CBFC chairperson. There is no hidden agenda in his malice. It’s all out in the open.”
He further said, “I believe he has been singing songs after my exit from the CBFC. Glad to bring happiness in his life. But some of the others ‘welcoming the change’ have been telling me on my face that they had no problem with me at the CBFC. And now they say they’re happy to see me go?”
Nihalani also added, “There were derogatory references to caste and community which I couldn’t allow. The next thing I heard is that the film’s hero had complained to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry about my high-handedness. God bless him and all the others who are celebrating my departure.”