Industry Mourns: Veteran Film Producer and Former CBFC Chief Pahlaj Nihalani Passes Away at 76

Veteran Hindi film producer Pahlaj Nihalani passed away today at his residence in Mumbai at the age of 76. The news of his demise was confirmed by fellow producer Shashi Ranjan, who shared that Nihalani had been battling prolonged health issues for quite some time. He was brought back home from Nanavati Hospital shortly before breathing his last.

Nihalani was a monumental figure in Bollywood’s commercial landscape, producing a string of massive action and comedy hits throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He is best remembered for his blockbuster collaborations with director David Dhawan and superstar Govinda, which defined an era of mass entertainment. His most famous projects include the historic box-office hit Aankhen and the romantic comedy Shola Aur Shabnam.

Over his multi-decade career, his extensive filmography also featured major 80s action titles like Haathkadi, Ilzaam, Aag Hi Aag, and Paap Ki Duniya. In later years, he continued to back projects such as Talaash: The Hunt Begins, Julie 2, and Rangeela Raja. His final production venture before his passing was the movie Anari Is Back, which was released in 2023.

Beyond his extensive filmmaking credentials, Nihalani was a highly talked-about public figure during his tenure as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) from January 2015 to August 2017.

During this phase, he routinely made national headlines for his intensely strict approach to censorship, demanding extensive cuts, audio mutes, and language modifications across both mainstream and independent cinema. His death marks the end of an era for Bollywood’s classic 90s commercial wave, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable blockbusters and a highly debated administrative history.