Pahlaj Nihalani not getting ousted from CBFC anytime soon, say I&B sources

The Chairperson of CBFC, Pahlaj Nihalani has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. From his stringent rules which don’t allow the certification of films like ‘Udta Punjab’ and ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ to asking for deletion of the word ‘intercourse’ from ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’ mini trails and movie, there is no stopping the man, who works by his own rules and regulations. However, there was a good news for those who strongly opposed his system of censorship. Reports suggested that he would be ousted from the CBFC. Apparently, a leading daily stated that sources from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said that he may get replaced by Prakash Jha.

Reportedly, even filmmaker and actor Chandraprakash Dwivedi was being considered for the position of CBFC Chief. But now, some sources in the I&B Ministry suggest that there is no such thing planned out. A source revealed to a leading web portal, “Every time there has been a board meeting of the CBFC on the anvil during the last two years ‘news’ about Pahlaj Nihlani’s ouster is leaked out presumably by disgruntled censor board members.” He stated that there is no such discussion on the anvil for the meeting which will be held today at Thiruvananthapuram.

“One of the topics to be discussed will be the fate of Jayan Cherian’s ‘Ka Bodyscapes’ which has been stuck with at the censors for many months now. But there is no move to discuss Pahlaj Nihalani’s removal or his replacement with names mentioned Prakash Jha, Dr Prakash Diwedi and Madhur Bhandarkar. Where did these names come from?” asks the source. (Also Read: No smoking and drinking in films if you want U/A certificate, says Pahlaj Nihalani)

This raises many questions in our mind about the entire scenario. How and where did these names come from?

Talking about his recent controversy, when he asked for the removal of the word “intercourse” from Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma-starrer ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’ and kept a challenge that if more than a lakh people vote against him in favour of the word, then he would clear it and that’s exactly what happened. A dejected Nihalani had no option but to agree to the same and certify the movie with a U/A certificate.

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.