Pahlaj Nihalani stands vindicated after the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) cleared his latest production, Rangeela Raja, with a 'U/A' certificate and just three cuts. Starring Govinda, Digangana Suryavanshi, Anupama Agnihotri, and directed by Sikander Bharti, the film is now scheduled to be released on 11 January 2019.
The Prasoon Joshi-led Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had earlier recommended 20 cuts to the film after which Nihalani had moved the Bombay high court.
“The court had directed me to go to FCAT. I never wanted to go to the review committee. Justice has been done,” Nihalani told Cinestaan.com.
The three cuts that Nihalani agreed upon comprise of a visual cut and one scene each of Govinda and Shakti Kapoor. “There was one visual cut, a scene each with Govinda and Shakti Kapoor. These cuts don’t impact my film and so I was fine with it. The FCAT found nothing out of order in my film,” he said.
The former CBFC chief reminded that he’s never faced trouble with the censor board before and was critical of the current board’s reservations to his film.
“I am a respected filmmaker, a former CBFC-chief and so I will not make a film that will affect my image. I have never had trouble from CBFC before this. There was a wrong perception coming from the board that my film glorifies violence against women. My film is a family entertainer,” he added.
A source from CBFC had earlier informed us that the examining committee had found the contents in Rangeela Raja offensive towards women.
With the legal hurdles cleared, Nihalani can look forward to a smooth release.