Pahlaj Nihalani: Credit to actor Vishal for exposing the corruption, CBFC CEO is aware of everything and he is responsible – Exclusive | Hindi Movie News

Actor Vishal kicked a hornet’s nest when he got here out with allegations of corruption towards the CBFC (Central Board of Movie Certification). He alleged that the producers needed to pay Rs 6.5 lakh to representatives of the CBFC in Mumbai, to get his movie ‘Mark Antony‘ licensed for a theatrical launch. Following these allegations, a number of events and organizations got here ahead to condone the malpractice together with India’s I&B Ministry.The CBFC too issued a press release that they might not tolerate any corruption and would take crucial motion towards the perpetrators.
ETimes reached out to ex-CBFC Chairman and filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani to file his views on the matter. The senior producer agreed that the CBFC does should cope with corruption regularly. He mentioned, “From the time I entered the trade until at the moment, apart from my tenure, there was heavy corruption. However the quantum may be very small. However now what they’re demanding is exceptional and I give credit score to actor Vishal who has come ahead to reveal them and it’s true that there’s corruption in CBFC. I do know many producers who’ve paid heavy quantities prior to now. I don’t know why the producers are paying the cash within the first place. I feel it’s as a result of the price of manufacturing has elevated and so they can not afford to cancel or delay the discharge.”
Nihalani was crucial of the present CBFC Chairman and mentioned, “In Prasoon Joshi’s tenure, he’s having fun with the chair with out attending the workplace and listening to this stuff. He has given energy to the CEO. The CEO can not see the film. He can solely take care of the administration. I feel the federal government has to take out the CEO’s energy completely. He/she ought to solely be the administrator.”
He additionally revealed that the CBFC has 9 regional workplaces in India. Nihalani additional defined the certification course of, “The RO is the boss on the regional workplace, who handles the screening. The Chairman has to offer the all-India on-line clearance himself. The one that watches the film has to signal the documentation.”

Nihalani gave a scathing evaluation of the present situation of CBFC operations and mentioned, “I feel it’s the authorities’s fault that the chairperson shouldn’t be attending the workplace. If the movie is huge then he’ll name the file within the workplace and signal the certificates. This isn’t the way in which. I feel corruption is going on underneath the roof and the CEO is conscious of it and he’s chargeable for every little thing. As a result of the chairman shouldn’t be attending the workplace, everyone seems to be making the most of it.”
Nihalani did level out that the CBFC has issued a directive to producers to keep away from involving brokers. He defined, “They’ve issued a press launch to the producers telling them to not come via the agent or middlemen. I had stopped permitting them. However the chairman himself has allowed them to come back via the brokers. Throughout my tenure, I didn’t permit any agent. There was on-line transparency, which isn’t gone. An enormous film can not afford the delay of certification from either side – producers and CBFC. Within the worldwide market, once you apply along with your film, they watch it the following day. Then why can’t it occur within the nation the place the movie has been produced?”
He revealed that this week, a Gujarati film was postponed due to delays in acquire the certificates. Nihalani added, “There are numerous films which have been suspended. Throughout Prasoon Joshi’s tenure, see how lengthy Padmaavat was delayed. Throughout my tenure, I didn’t permit any photos to get delayed. Individuals have created buzz and controversies as a result of their films weren’t in demand. The Authorities had appointed the Shyam Benegal Committee. What occurred to that committee? The producers are paying huge quantities as a result of the tribunal shouldn’t be there. They don’t have a alternative. They should rely utterly on the CBFC. Their second probability is within the courtroom. Producers are paying cash to the middlemen due to that harassment.”
Nihalani added that he has knowledgeable the CBFC CEO in regards to the rampant corruption taking place throughout the CBFC system. He mentioned, “Anyone has demanded 3 lakh rupees for a dubbed Kannada film. This isn’t the suitable factor, please give them a date in any other case I’ll carry a protest to the CBFC. I’m an trade man, not an ex-chairperson. I’m from the trade and I will likely be for the trade solely.”
Firing a ultimate salvo on the present CBFC Chairman, Nihalani mentioned, “On the grounds of corruption and if he doesn’t have the time, the Chairman ought to resign gracefully and handover the time period to somebody from the trade.”