Producer and former CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalini passed away on Thursday, June 4, in Mumbai. He was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, admitted to the hospital in Nanavati and was suffering for the last four months. Nihalini was launched Govinda and shared a deep bond with the actress. But they had an alleged falling out, which the producer also addressed in an interview a while ago. Meanwhile, Pahlaj also reacted to Govinda’s demands James Cameron‘s’avatar. Nihalini blamed it David Dhawan For souring her relationship with Govinda. In an interview with Vickey Lalwani he said, “”He was a single screen hero, and around the time multiplexes came, people stopped releasing his films. Jab Govinda ka time aaya Partner ke baad toh uski filmein jitni aayi, logon ne usko neecha dikhaaya aur shows chalne nahi diye. David Dhawan uske saath kaam kar raha tha aur David Dhawan ne uske mind me zeher daal diya tha against me. Kyuki unko lagta tha main ne paisa kamaya, jabki meri picture sey unka naam hua (After Partner, many of his films were not released or stopped. David Dhawan was working with him at that time and he poisoned himself against me. He thought I was making money, but he didn’t see that he had made a name with my films too).In another interview, Govinda denied offering ‘Avatar’. In an interview with Pinkvilla he said, “” Wo Avatar meri picture thi. Maine Rangeela Raja se pehle shuru ki thi. Pata nahi usko baad mein dhyaan aaya ki ye picture baad mein shoot karte hai. Baaki 6 din banayi thi maine. Aur pehle apan dusri shuru karte hai. You own the photo and the remake rights… Ab pata nahi wo kyu bolta hai kya bolta hai usko sach much aaya ke nahi aaya, lekin Avatar meri picture thi. Aaj bhi mere paas title register hai. Pata nahi ab banaunga ke nahi banaunga.” (That Avatar was actually my film. I started it before Rangeela Raja. I don’t know if he remembered later that the film could be made in a different way. I had already shot it for six days, but then I moved on to another project. I also gave him the remake rights… I don’t know why he says, actually it was my film, but it had experience or it wasn’t my film. Even today, I have the title registered in my name. I don’t know if I’ll get it or not). Pahlaj Nihalani He was a member of the Picture and Television Program Producers Association for almost three decades, until his resignation in 2009. He was sacked as the CBFC chief on August 11, 2017, and soon after. To Prasoon Joshi was appointed to the position. The first film he produced was ‘Haathkadi’ in 1982. His second film, ‘Aandhi Toofan’, in 1985. His third film ‘Ilzaam’, in 1986, was Govinda’s debut. Chunky Pandey then made his debut with the Pahlaj Nihalani backed film ‘Aag Hi Aag’ in 1987.
