Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's strategy to deal with CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani is simple, he plans to move court for every film of his, which will be opposed by CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 12, 2017)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's upcoming film, 'Haraamkhor', which has been in the making for four years, was stuck at the censors for eight months before the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal finally passed it. This is the second time in the last few months that a movie backed by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has hit a roadblock with the CBFC (Anurag moved to Bombay High Court against the CBFC at the time of 'Udta Punjab').

Recently, CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani was criticised for retaining Ranveer Singh's butt-naked shot in 'Befikre'. Speaking to hitlist, Anurag says, "If anything is remotely associated with me, Pahlajji opens his pitara and brings out the special love he has for me. He can say whatever he wants. We know we will always have to move court for our films."

An exasperated Kashyap adds that he doesn't expect Nihalani to know the line between good and bad. "It's (censorship) a topic that I would rather not talk about, because it's pointless; it's like banging your head against a wall. For every film, we will have to move court. So, the process of getting our films cleared will take around six to eight months. I remember at the time of 'Bombay Velvet' (2015), Pahlajji had cut a simple intimate scene. And now you see him clearing much more than that in a film."