The film industry mourns the loss of the veteran producer and former CBFC chairman Pahlaj NihalaniSeveral old interviews featuring the sharp filmmaker are resurfacing online. Among them is the shocking account of a health crisis that left her fighting for her life and confined to a hospital bed for almost a month. The producer, known for backing films like ‘Ilzaam’, ‘Aankhen’, ‘Shola Aur Shabnam’ and ‘Aag Hi Aag’, spoke definitively about the horrifying incident and how he came close to not getting it out.What started as a routine pick-me-up at home quickly turned into a nightmare. Nihalani recalled that some members of a film unit attached to him had unexpectedly dropped by one evening. Since there was not enough food to cook at home, the group decided to order dinner at a restaurant.Normally someone who preferred home-cooked meals, Nihalani reluctantly joined others. “Chicken is the only non-vegetarian item I eat, so they asked me to join them. I graciously agreed. The moment I bit into the chicken, I knew something was wrong. But others assured me it was fine,” he told Bollywood Hungama. At that time, he put aside his doubts and continued with his meal.A few hours later, the veteran producer began to feel restless. At first he thought it was a minor stomach problem and tried to rest after vomiting once. The situation, however, escalated dramatically in the middle of the night. “Around 3 in the morning I bled a lot. Then I panicked and called my son. Luckily he stays in the same building,” Nihalani recalled. His family immediately arranged for medical help and took him to the hospital.Doctors admitted him to Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital, where he stayed for 28 days. The experience was particularly difficult because it happened during the pandemic, when hospital visits were severely limited. “For the next 28 days I was in Nanavati hospital. No one allowed me to visit because of the pandemic. I spoke to my wife on video calls,” he shared. For someone who has rarely dealt with major health issues, the long hospital stay was physically and emotionally draining.
Thanks to the family and doctors
In moderation, Nihalani repeatedly credited her family and medical team for helping her survive. He reserved special praise for Dr. Jayant Barve and the doctors who managed his treatment from the moment he arrived at the hospital. “Within hours I had all my tests done. I was lucky. Anyone with less caring family and a less caring medical team would have died. I’ve been pulled from the jaws of death,” he said. The producer admitted that there were moments when no one knew how the situation would turn out.As the incident occurred at a time when COVID-19 was dominating the headlines, there was speculation about the cause of his illness. Nihalani categorically denied these rumors and explained that he had recovered from COVID-19 a month earlier. “No, it wasn’t. I got Covid in April 2020. I recovered at home. This was much worse. I was hospitalized for the first time in my life. No one knew if I would survive. I survived because God and my family were with me,” he said.
A lesson Pahlaj Nihalani never forgot
The experience left a lasting impression on the producer. Believing that the food served that evening caused the crisis, he considered taking legal action against the establishment involved. More importantly, he used the incident as a warning to others. “It could have been the last meal of my life. Everyone who ate that night was sick. But I was hit the hardest. In these difficult times I ask everyone to only eat home-cooked meals,” he warned.Today, as colleagues, friends and fans remember Pahlaj Nihalani’s contributions to Indian cinema, this remarkable story stands as a testament to his resilience. Long before his death, the producer had already survived one of the toughest battles of his life, with family, health and gratitude for second chances.
