VOI World/ Desk
Bollywood bids farewell to Pahlaj Nihalani after the veteran film producer and former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief passed away in Mumbai at the age of 76, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the film industry.
Nihalani, known for producing several successful Hindi films and for launching the careers of actors including Govinda and Chunky Panday, reportedly died after battling liver-related health complications. His final rites were held at the Santacruz Hindu Crematorium in Mumbai on Thursday.
Several prominent Bollywood personalities attended the funeral to pay their last respects. Among those present were Govinda, Saif Ali Khan, Varun Dhawan, Farhan Akhtar and Shatrughan Sinha. Industry colleagues gathered to honour a filmmaker whose career spanned more than four decades.
Govinda, who made his acting debut in Nihalani’s 1986 film Ilzaam, was among the most emotional attendees. Remembering his long-time mentor, the actor described Nihalani as one of the foundational figures in his career and credited him for giving him one of his earliest opportunities in Bollywood.
Tributes also poured in on social media from members of the film fraternity, including Kangana Ranaut, Suniel Shetty, Randeep Hooda and Chunky Panday, who remembered Nihalani’s contributions to Indian cinema and his role in supporting emerging talent.
Bollywood bids farewell to Pahlaj Nihalani as the industry reflects on the legacy of a producer who helped shape commercial Hindi cinema and later became one of the most influential and controversial figures in India’s film certification system.
