Former CBFC Chairman And Producer Pahlaj Nihalani Who Launched Govinda Passes Away At 76

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Pahlaj Nihalani has died at the age of 76 on June 4, 2026. The former film producer and ex-chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly passed away in Mumbai after battling health issues for some time. Multiple reports suggest he had been suffering from liver-related complications, including liver cirrhosis, over the past few months. Reports remain mixed on whether he passed away at home or after hospitalization, though he had reportedly undergone treatment at Nanavati Hospital.

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The last rites were held on Thursday afternoon at Santacruz Hindu Crematorium in Mumbai at 3 PM with several members of the film fraternity, including Govinda, Farhan Akhtar, Shatrughan Sinha, Varun Dhawan, and others attending to pay their final respects.

Known for producing films like Aankhen, Shola Aur Shabnam, and launching Govinda's career through Ilzaam, Nihalani was also one of Bollywood's most debated figures during his tenure as CBFC chairman from 2015 to 2017.

Early Life And Entry Into Bollywood

Born on January 10, 1950, into a Sindhi family, Pahlaj Nihalani entered the Hindi film industry in the early 1980s and gradually built a reputation for backing commercial entertainers that connected with mass audiences.

Apart from filmmaking, he also became an influential figure within industry circles and served as president of the Association of Pictures and TV Programme Producers for nearly three decades, strengthening his position behind the scenes long before becoming a public figure.

Building A Career Through Commercial Cinema

Nihalani started his journey as a producer with 'Haathkadi' in 1982, but his bigger success came later with a series of commercial films that shaped mainstream Hindi cinema.

One of his biggest contributions was producing 'Ilzaam' in 1986, a film widely credited with launching Govinda as a leading actor. He also produced 'Aag Hi Aag', associated with the launch of Chunky Pandey.

Over the years, he backed several successful films including 'Shola Aur Shabnam', 'Aankhen', 'Andaz', and 'Talaash'. Among them, 'Aankhen' went on to become one of the defining comedies of the 1990s and remains popular even today.

Later in his career, he expanded into film distribution and became associated with projects like 'Julie 2' and 'Rangeela Raja'.

The CBFC Years And Controversies

In 2015, Pahlaj Nihalani became chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification, a role that made him one of Bollywood's most debated personalities.

His tenure between 2015 and 2017 sparked discussions around censorship, creative freedom, and film certification standards. He pushed for stricter guidelines regarding profanity and adult content, leading to criticism from filmmakers and audiences alike.

Some of the biggest controversies during his tenure included cuts suggested for the James Bond film Spectre and the highly publicised conflict around 'Udta Punjab', where the board initially proposed numerous cuts before court intervention reduced them.

Because of his conservative approach toward certification, he earned the nickname "sanskari censor chief," a label that stayed associated with him throughout his public life.

Personal Life Away From The Spotlight

Despite his outspoken public image, Nihalani largely kept his personal life private. He was married to Nita Nihalani, and reports suggest the couple knew each other since their school days before eventually tying the knot.

The couple had three sons and mostly stayed away from media attention. One of his sons, Chirag Nihalani, later became associated with film production and creative ventures in the entertainment industry.

He also had family connections within Bollywood circles through relations linked to actor Shatrughan Sinha's family.

A Legacy That Divided Opinions

Even after leaving the CBFC, Nihalani remained active in cinema-related discussions and projects.

His legacy remains a complicated one. To some, he will be remembered as the producer behind several mass entertainers that defined an era of commercial Bollywood. To others, he remains one of the most controversial censorship figures in modern Indian cinema.

With his passing at 76, Bollywood has lost a producer, administrator, and personality whose career consistently kept him at the centre of conversations around cinema, censorship, and commercial filmmaking.