The name Pahlaj Nihalani instantly brings back memories of the flashy Bollywood films of the 1980s and ’90s. But for an entire generation, he is remembered less as a filmmaker and more as the tough former Chief of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). His short but controversial stint as CBFC Chairperson between 2015 and 2016 continues to make headlines even today.
During his tenure, Nihalani became the face of strict censorship. His decisions often sparked fierce debates, with many in the film industry openly criticizing him. Things came to a head in 2016 when he was removed from his post.
Coincidentally, this was the same period when streaming platforms were starting to gain ground in India. For many actors and filmmakers, OTT soon became a space free from the kind of restrictions that theatrical releases had to deal with.
Actor Vivek Oberoi, who starred in Amazon Prime Video’s first Indian Original series ‘Inside Edge’, once expressed this relief. In an old interview, he had remarked that doing OTT content meant he no longer had to worry about dealing with Pahlaj Nihalani.
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That remark clearly hasn’t gone down well with the former CBFC head.
Speaking about it now, Nihalani sounded unimpressed. “Whenever Vivek Oberoi meets me, he greets me very warmly,” he said, hinting that the actor’s public comments do not match his personal behavior.
Taking a sharp dig at Oberoi’s career, he added, “Now, if he has to say something… is he even getting any films anymore? If he likes vulgarity, he should keep it to his personal life. Why do it in films?”
Nihalani revealed that the government had reached out to him more than once to return as CBFC Chairperson. “I was offered the position in 2002, and again just last year,” he said. But both times, he refused. The reason, according to him, is simple: the post is a “thankless” one.
“I have already done that job. People only criticize, nobody appreciates. So why go back?” he explained.