Pahlaj Nihalani Dies At 76
The Hindi film industry woke up to a sad news on the morning of June 4, as veteran filmmaker and former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani passed away at the age of 76. Reportedly, he was dealing with liver-related health issues for sometime.
Filmmaker’s family confirmed the news in an official statement which also revealed the details of his last rites, “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,” the statement read.
A Career That Spanned More Than Four Decades
Pahlaj Nihalani began his journey as a producer in the early 1980s with Haathkadi (1982), followed by Aandhi-Toofan (1985). And ove the years, he gave life to several popular commercial films including Gunahon Ka Faisla, Paap Ki Duniya, Mitti Aur Sona, Shola Aur Shabnam, Andaz and Talaash.
However, one of his biggest successes came with 1993’s Aankhen film, starring Govinda and Chunky Pandey, which became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood releases of its time and remains a memorable comedy entertainer even today.
Apart from film production, Nihalani also served as a chairperson to CBFC from 201 to 2017. During his tenure he sparked frequent discussions around censorship and film certification, making him one of the most talked-about figures in the industry during that period.
And in later years, he continued producing films including Julie 2 and Rangeela Raja.
Whether as a producer backing commercial entertainers or as the head of India’s film certification board, Pahlaj Nihalani remained a significant part of Bollywood’s legacy and his contribution to the industry will be remembered for years to come.
 chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani passed away at the age of 76.){kind=link}