Pahlaj Nihalani’s last rites: Varun Dhawan touches Govinda’s feet, hugs him; Farhan Akhtar, Malaika Arora attend cremation

Filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani, former chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), was cremated today at the Santacruz Hindu Crematorium in Mumbai. Pahlaj Nihalani passed away on Thursday morning following a prolonged illness. He was 76.

Govinda, Farhan Akhtar, Shatrughan Sinha, Varun Dhawan, Kunal Kapoor, and Ramesh Taurani, among others, attended the last rites. Boney Kapoor, Neelam Kothari, Saif Ali Khan, and Govind Namdev were also present.

Govinda Gets Emotional As He Pays Last Respects To Pahlaj Nihalani At Funeral, Recalls His Support

Varun Dhawan arrived with his father, David Dhawan, and was seen touching Govinda’s feet. Malaika Arora attended the funeral with Amrita Arora and was seen interacting with Farhan Akhtar. David Dhawan was also photographed outside Pahlaj Nihalani’s residence while paying his last respects.

Speaking to reporters at the crematorium, Govinda remembered Nihalani as a guiding force for many artists in the film industry and credited him with helping several people build successful careers.

“The highly respected Pahlaj Nihalani ji was a foundation stone for many of us. Several artists, including me, who rose from difficult and financially challenging circumstances, received his support and encouragement. There must be at least a dozen artists in the country whose careers were shaped by his guidance,” Govinda said.

Govinda also praised Nihalani’s ability to identify and nurture talent. According to the actor, Nihalani played a key role in helping aspiring artists find opportunities and achieve success in the industry.

“Pahlaj ji had a rare ability to identify talent and help people rise from the ground to great heights. It was a gift bestowed upon him by God,” he added.

Govinda also offered condolences on behalf of the Sindhi community and prayed for Nihalani’s soul.

“On behalf of the entire Sindhi community, I offer my respects to him and pray that his soul rests in peace,” he said.

In one of the videos shared by paparazzi on social media, Govinda was also seen getting emotional as he arrived for the last rites.

The filmmaker had been in and out of hospital in recent months, and the exact cause of death is currently unknown.

The family’s statement read, “With profound grief, we inform you of the passing of our beloved Pahlaj Nihalani on June 4, 2026. The cremation ceremony will be held today, June 4, 2026, at 3 pm at Santacruz Hindu Crematorium. We are grateful for your thoughts and prayers as we bid a final farewell.”

Nihalani’s journey

Nihalani began his journey as a film producer in the early 1980s. His first production, Haathkadi, was released in 1982, followed by Aandhi-Toofan in 1985.

One of his most notable contributions came in 1986 when he produced Ilzaam, which marked the acting debut of Govinda. A year later, he produced Aag Hi Aag, which introduced Chunky Pandey to Hindi cinema.

Over the years, Nihalani backed several commercial entertainers, including Gunahon Ka Faisla, Paap Ki Duniya, Mitti Aur Sona, Shola Aur Shabnam, and Aankhen.

Among these, Aankhen emerged as one of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters of the 1990s and cemented his reputation as a successful producer.

Apart from producing films, Nihalani also briefly stepped into direction. In 2012, he directed Avatar, starring Govinda. He also made a cameo appearance in the 2008 film Halla Bol.

Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Nihalani attracted attention after producing the promotional song Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi in support of Narendra Modi.

In January 2015, he was appointed chairman of the CBFC. His appointment soon became a subject of debate due to his strict stance on film certification and censorship.

Nihalani’s tenure as CBFC chief was marked by several high-profile controversies. Soon after assuming office, he introduced stricter certification guidelines, proposing restrictions on profanity, violence against women, and content that could hurt religious sentiments.

He drew widespread criticism for ordering cuts in films and trailers, including the shortening of kissing scenes in the James Bond film Spectre. However, the biggest controversy came in 2016 during the certification of Udta Punjab.

The CBFC, under Nihalani’s leadership, suggested numerous cuts to the film before the matter reached court. Eventually, the Bombay High Court allowed the film’s release with only one cut.

He also made headlines for objecting to the use of the word “intercourse” in the trailer of Jab Harry Met Sejal, arguing that Indian audiences were not ready for such terminology.

Throughout his tenure, Nihalani often sparked debates with his public remarks. He advocated stricter censorship standards and argued against profanity in films. He also questioned the release of films that he believed could trigger controversies and criticised student protests at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

In 2015, he produced the music video Mera Desh Mahaan as a tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video generated considerable discussion and criticism at the time.

In August 2017, Nihalani was removed as CBFC chairman and was replaced by lyricist and advertising professional Prasoon Joshi. Following his exit, he claimed that his removal was linked to disagreements over film certification decisions.

After leaving the CBFC, he returned to film-related work and became associated with the distribution of the film Julie 2.

In 2024, actor Niki Aneja alleged that Nihalani had mistreated her during the filming of Mr Azad in 1993. The allegations once again brought the veteran producer into public discussion.