Join WhatsApp Channel
Distributor, producer and also chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) from January 2015 to August 2017, Pahlaj Nihalani, passed away at the age of 76 on June 4.
He was suffering from poor health and is survived by his wife and three sons. After a successful career as distributor, the soft-spoken gentleman, who unlike most people in the film industry picked up phone calls or returned them if busy, turned producer with Haathkadi in 1982.
He had a golden streak even as a producer and gave consecutive hits and successes after that—Aandhi Toofan (1985), Ilzaam (1986), Aag Hi Aag (1987) and Paap Ki Duniya (1988). After that, his hits included Mitti Aur Sona (1989), Shola Aur Shabnam (1992) and Aankhen (1993), the biggest hit of that year that also was the third biggest hit of that entire decade.
Nilahani gave a major breakthrough for Govinda (Ilzaam), Neelam (Ilzaam, Aag Hi Aag, Paap Ki Duniya, Mitti Aur Sona) and composer Bappi Lahiri, whose music for the small film he had distributed, Tere Pyar Mein (1979) had impressed him. Bappi scored music for most of his films—13 in as many years.
Nihalani introduced Chunky Pandey in Aag Hi Aag as well as present Bengali superstar Prosenjit in Aandhiyan, a film that also saw Mumtaz making a rare comeback. He had long associations with directors Shibu Mitra and David Dhawan, actors Shatrughan Sinha and lyricist Anjaan. His last film was Anari Is Back, which released in 2023.
Prosenjit sent us a voice note in tribute saying, “It’s a really sad news that Pahlaj ji is no more. I was doing a big Bengali film, Mandira, which was being produced by him and was being shot in Mumbai in 1989. The film co-starred Sonam and Chunky Pandey. While shooting, he told me that he had a subject that I may like. And that was Aandhiyan with director David Dhawan and big stars like Shatrughan Sinha and Mumtaz. He was a great guy, a very passionate producer. And he was a very helpful person. I’m really feeling sad that I am in Kolkata and could not come to Mumbai.”
