Home Ministry asked me not to pass Bajrangi Bhaijaan, alleges Nihalani

Pahlaj Nihalani, who was recently removed as the chief of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), has levelled a serious charge against the Home Ministry. He has alleged that keeping in mind the title of the film, the ministry ordered him not to pass Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) during the Eid period as they feared the film potrayed the concept of 'Love Jihad'.

For the uninitiated, Love Jihad or Romeo Jihad, is a term that addresses the activity under which Muslim boys and men allegedly make Hindu girls fall in love with them, only with the intention of converting them to Islam. 

“I got a letter from the Home Ministry for Bajrangi Bhaijaan because of the title and it was also Eid. They said that the film shouldn’t be released during Eid. This was because of the law and order situation,” he said. 

But Nihalani said that he knew there was nothing objectionable in the film. “Because the same writer (K V Vijayendra Prasad) was writing for me. He gave me a narration and I felt that the content doesn’t have anything to do with Love Jihad. As I am from the film industry, I know too much in and out,” he added. 

Nihalani revealed the details of the entire episode. “It was an advanced letter from so many months. Following this within 4-5 days I wrote three letters to the ministry. Then I got a letter from the ministry asking me to see the film within the guidelines. I had gone out of my way (to pass the film) because I knew that the misunderstanding that the government and media had. I supported the film,” he said. 

But Nihalani is pained that director Kabir Khan and Salman never supported him. He further came down heavily on Kabir. “I am the villain for Salman Khan and the director (Kabir Khan). I don’t even remember his name because he is a useless fellow. He is completely unprofessional. Even after not ordering any cuts in his film, he has always spoken against me,” he added. 

Nihalani also went onto take a dig at the failure of Tubelight. “Even his film Tubelight didn’t face any problem. If you can’t give a good film with Salman Khan, who is a superstar today, then where do you stand?” he asked. 

Watch the interview: