Death of veteran producer and former CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani has renewed focus on his most prominent interviews. Throughout his career, the filmmaker was known for voicing his opinions without hesitation, often sparking controversy within the industry.In an interview on the Learn From The Legend podcast, Nihalani shared his thoughts on the evolving work culture in Bollywood, the rising costs surrounding it and the growing influence of actors in filmmaking decisions. Nihalani didn’t hold back while discussing the ever-increasing demands of the actors and their crews. Comparing the current system to the film industry of previous decades, he argued that production has been burdened with unnecessary expenses.“Now where one person was working, 10 people are working. Before, there was one vanity van, but now the actors ask for six vanity vans, one for exercise, one for the kitchen, one for meetings,” he said. The producer further criticized the stars for their excessive expectations in film circles. “Sharam ani chahiye un actors ko jo che vanity vans mangate hai (Actors should be ashamed of themselves for ordering six vanity vans),” he declared.According to Nihalani, the support staff accompanying the actors has also increased tremendously over the years. “Earlier only the make-up man went with the actors, now they ask for a hairdresser and a person to hold the mirror. They give bills of Rs 1.5 lakh for nothing. Assi assi hazaar ka make-up chahiye”, (they want make-up worth Rs 80,000) he said.
Pahlaj Nihalani’s powerful observations on Bollywood’s drug culture
In the same interaction, Nihalani also addressed the issue of substance abuse in the film industry. He alleged that while some actors publicly project disciplined lifestyles, their private habits tell a different story. “They used to bring home prepared food, but now they want diet food. They want drugs at night and diet food in the morning,” he said.When asked if the drug culture still exists in Bollywood, his response was immediate. “Of course it exists. Kuch actors ke toh aankhon mein hi aapko dikhega drug hi drug hai”, (With some actors, you can see in their eyes that they are under the influence of drugs), he said. The remarks created a lot of controversy at the time and once again highlighted Nihalani’s reputation for making controversial observations.
Comments on Akshay Kumar and casting decisions
Nihalani reflected on the changing power dynamics within the industry and recalled an experience during the making of ‘Talaash: The Hunt Begins…’. The producer revealed that Akshay Kumar strongly recommended Kareena Kapoor for the film, something he considered unusual at the time.According to Nihalani, it was one of the first instances in his career that an actor played such an important role in casting decisions, a trend he believes has become common across Bollywood today. When asked about the reason why Akshay wanted Kareena for the film, he said, “Sometimes as actors get older they want to act against younger actors so that they look younger.”
Legacy of Pahlaj Nihalani
Although his outspoken opinions often made headlines, Pahlaj Nihalani’s contribution to Indian cinema extended beyond controversies. He started as a producer in 1982 with ‘Haathkadi’ and has been behind several successful films. He played a key role in launching Govinda with ‘Ilzaam’ and introduced Chunky Pandey in ‘Aag Hi Aag’.Over the years, he produced popular entertainers like ‘Shola Aur Shabnam’ and ‘Aankhen’, which remain memorable entries in Hindi cinema. He later ventured into direction with ‘Avatar’ and produced his latest film ‘Rangeela Raja’ in 2019.
Remembering a voice industry figure
Nihalani never shied away from voicing his opinions, whether as a producer, industry representative or former CBFC chief. His comments often sparked controversy, but also reflected his deep involvement in filmmaking and his concern for changing cultures.
