‘I asked for votes on TV, NOT social media,’ Pahlaj Nihalani reacts to ‘intercourse’ debate

CBFC Chief, Pahlaj Nihalani is constantly in headlines, the latest was when he threw an open challenge to a media channel over the word ‘intercourse’ from the film ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal‘. He had challenged that if there are 1 lakh votes favouring the usage of the word ‘intercourse’ in the movie, he would allow it to stay. Now, the verdict is out and Nihalani has lost the challenge as more than 1 lakh people have voted in favour of the word. In a video that went viral, the CBFC Chief is seen blatantly avoiding a reporter who tries to seek an answer from him on the losing the challenge.

Now, Mr Nihalani has reacted on the debate and speaking to Pinkvilla, he said, “I said for TV, not on social media (votes). I never said on the social media. The said channel/tabloid is misleading, misquoting me and I am not going back on my words.”

He explained it further by saying, “Whatever I said it is on the TV because I gave an interview to that channel which is TV medium and not social media. I asked for votes from people who watch these TV channels, those families who have 12-year-old and are ready to explain the meaning of the word to them. If they do, I would send the recommendation to the government. On social media, they are giving such misleading information and out of SRK’s over 1 crore fan following they could only collect 80,000 votes on the sixth day and overnight [on the seventh day] all the fake accounts have given votes. How can I consider these social media votes based on fake accounts? Who are the genuine people here?” (Also Read: 1 lakh people want ‘intercourse’. Mr Pahlaj Nihalani, think before you challenge media)

He even questioned the authenticity of the votes by saying, “For seven days, which voting goes on? ‘Voting saat din hoti hai kya?‘ They’re running a campaign on social media for seven days, that means they want to market their channel in the name of the CBFC.”

He also opened up on the video wherein we see a reporter following him in a lift and he ignores her. He said, “A young reporter asks me and follows me even in my lift. She waited six hours to seek a reply from me when I am entering the CBFC office, she is following me without my permission. This the decency of the democracy that you can go and ask any questions on the road and in the lift? This is completely ridiculous.”

Prajakta Ajgaonkar

Passionate about writing, and a Bollywood lover, she is all that is sweet and endearing! She desires to put her best foot forward in everything that she does and loves to help anyone who’s in need.