Veteran film producer and former chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Pahlaj Nihalani, passed away on June 4, 2026, at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai. He was 75 years old. The producer had been battling liver cirrhosis for the past four months and was admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Health Battle and Hospitalization
According to IANS, Nihalani was under the care of Dr. Jayant Barve. Over the last 30 days, he had been moved between several hospitals for treatment. Journalist Vickey Lalwani reported that he had spoken to Nihalani's wife the day before his death, and she had expressed hope that he would return home soon.
Career and Contributions
Pahlaj Nihalani served as the chairman of the Association of Pictures and TV Programme Producers for nearly three decades before resigning in 2009. He was appointed as the CBFC chairperson in January 2015 but was ousted from the position on August 11, 2017, following which Prasoon Joshi took over.
Nihalani began his production career with the film 'Haathkadi' in 1982. His second film, 'Aandhi Toofan', was released in 1985. In 1986, he produced 'Ilzaam', which marked the debut of actor Govinda. The following year, his production 'Aag Hi Aag' introduced Chunky Pandey to Bollywood. Over the years, he produced several successful films, including 'Gunahon Ka Faisla', 'Paap Ki Duniya', 'Mitti Aur Sona', 'Shola Aur Shabnam', and David Dhawan's 'Aankhen'.
In 2008, Nihalani made a special appearance in the film 'Halla Bol'. His last production was 'Rangeela Raja', released in 2019, which was intended as a comeback vehicle for Govinda but failed at the box office. The film was a remake of the Rajinikanth-starrer 'Netrikan'.
Legacy
Pahlaj Nihalani's contributions to Indian cinema, both as a producer and as a regulatory figure, have left a lasting impact. He is remembered for launching the careers of major stars and for his tenure at the CBFC.
