Ex-CBFC chairperson: Parliamentary committee bullied me & Bhansali

Pahlaj Nihalani had claimed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had also bullied him during his tenure.

Nihalani said this expressing his reaction after director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was grilled by a parliamentary committee even before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) can view the film.

"By all means, the parliamentary committee has every right to question Bhansali or any other filmmaker. But only after the CBFC views and certifies the film."

"By questioning him before the censor certificate, you are challenging the authority of the CBFC as the final arbitrary body to decide the fate of a film," said Nihalani.

Nihalani is the Former Central Board of Film Certificataion chairperson and producer.

Nihalani feels the CBFC seems to have lost its authority. "During my tenure, I was bullied by the I&B ministry into taking decisions."

"Now it's a free-for all. Any and every governing body can question a film. Where does that leave the CBFC?"