 "Newsmaker: Pahlaj Nihalani")
Former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani has alleged that the censor body did not give a timely review of his upcoming production 'Rangeela Raja', while multi-starrer 'Thugs Of Hindostan' was given preference by the film body.
Nihalani stated that the present CBFC chairman, Prasoon Joshi, was biased towards TOH as he his friends with Aamir Khan.
"My film was reviewed 40 days after applying. I was going to release my film on November 8. Thugs of Hindostan had applied 20 days after me. However, Prasoon Joshi who is good friends with Aamir Khan, gave preference to his movie before my film," Nihalani told ANI.
He also claimed that CBFC did not follow the set guidelines of reviewing a film within 21 days of the makers approaching the board.
Earlier in the day, Nihalani had moved the Bombay High Court against CBFC's suggestion pf approximately 20 cuts in 'Rangeela Raja.' "The cuts suggested for my film were completely illogical and meaningless," explained Nihalani.
"There is no vulgarity, no double meaning dialogues. Still I've been asked to delete a massive number of dialogues and scenes," Nihalani clarified.
With 'Rangeela Raja', Nihalani is re-uniting with Bollywood actor Govinda after 25 years. They have earlier worked together in films including 'Ilzaam', 'Shola Aur Shabnam' and 'Aankhen'.
Govinda's comeback film, 'Rangeela Raja' also stars Shakti Kapoor, Digangana Suryavanshi, Mishika Chourasia, and Anupama Agnihotri. It is scheduled to hit the big screens on November 16.
As the censor board chairman Nihalani had faced flak for objecting to the word 'intercourse' in the promo of Anushka Sharma and Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Jab Harry Met Sejal' and also for refusing to clear the women-centric film 'Lipstick Under My Burkha'.
