The Indian film industry bid farewell today to Pahlaj Nihalani, a towering figure in cinema and former head of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) also known as the Censor Board. At 76, his journey came to a close at his Mumbai home after a long period of illness. His family shared, “With profound grief, we inform you of the passing of our beloved Pahlaj Nihalani on 4th June 2026. The cremation ceremony will be held today, 04.06.2026 at 3 pm at Santacruz Hindu Crematorium. We are grateful for your thoughts and prayers as we bid a final farewell.” Known for producing crowd-pulling entertainers such as ‘Gunahon Ka Faisla’, ‘Paap Ki Duniya’, ‘Mitti Aur Sona’, ‘Shola Aur Shabnam’ and ‘Aankhen’, Nihalani carved a distinct space in mainstream cinema as a producer.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and friends. Shatrughan Singh expressed, “Deeply grief-stricken and shattered, by the tragic passing away of a deeply cherished dearest friend and family friend, best filmmaker, former Chairperson, CBFC, Pahlaj Nihalani. He was a good and rare soul, very popular in the film fraternity. He leaves behind a profound void, an irreparable and irreplaceable loss. Prayers of strength to his wife Kantu and children. May all his loved ones, friends and supporters find peace in their hour of grief. You will be truly missed, my dearest friend. Om Shanti.” He was among those present at the Santacruz crematorium, joined by Saif Ali Khan, Govinda, Farhan Akhtar, Malaika Arora and others.
Kangana Ranaut remembered him with the words, “Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Pahlaj Nihalaniji. A producer who backed numerous films, launched and supported many artistes, and remained passionately committed to Indian cinema for decades. His contribution to the film industry will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. Om Shanti.” Actor Chunky Panday also honoured him with a heartfelt post online.
