Veteran film producer and former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani passed away at the age of 76 due to liver cirrhosis. His last rites took place this afternoon, drawing numerous celebrities from the film industry who had worked with him over the decades.
Notable Attendees at the Funeral
Several prominent figures from Bollywood paid their last respects. Filmmaker David Dhawan arrived with his son Rohit Dhawan, while actor Varun Dhawan was also present. Actor Govinda, who owed his career to Nihalani, was spotted at the funeral. Govinda shared a special bond with the late producer, who launched him with the film Ilzaam and collaborated on several other projects. He paid tribute to the media, saying, 'Respected Pahlaj Nihalani ji. I and many artists like me who rose from poverty owe it to your support. The journey from the ground to the sky was given to him by the Almighty. We salute you and pray that your soul finds peace. Many artists like me, who are famous worldwide, have been blessed by such people.'
Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha was also seen at the funeral, along with actress Malaika Arora. Actor, producer, and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar was spotted as well.
Pahlaj Nihalani's Legacy
Nihalani produced numerous films, including Haathkadi, Aandhi-Tofan, Dil Tera Diwana starring Saif Ali Khan, and Bhai Bhai, among others. He launched Govinda with Ilzaam and worked with him in several subsequent films. As an industry veteran and former CBFC chief, Nihalani served as the Association of Pictures and TV Programme Producers for almost three decades until his resignation in 2009. He was ousted as the CBFC chief on August 11, 2017, after which Prasoon Joshi was appointed to the position.
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