Ex-CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani: I have not been officially told that I have been replaced
| Updated: Aug 21, 2017, 14:11 IST
Last week saw the ouster of Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani as screenplay writer and lyricist Prasoon Joshi took over as the new chairperson. However, Prasoon failed to report on the first day of his tenure due to ill-health. Allegedly, Pahlaj Nihalani had become arrogant in his tenure and was also power-hungry. Countering such allegation is former Censor Board chief in an interview where he clarified his stand on the controversies that he led during his term.
"The chairperson is not given salary as it's an honorary post, but there are certain facilities which he can avail of. However, I did not use any of them. I would buy water bottles and would use those in the office. I didn't use the office car that was assigned to me, I used my own car instead. I shelled out money for the petrol from my own pocket," said Pahlaj Nihalani in an interview with a leading tabloid.
He further added, "Whenever I travelled out of Mumbai, owing to my duties as a chairperson, I paid for everything — from air fare to the hotel bills." Nihalani's actions, he claims, were based on the simple idea of not wanting to burden the board in any way."
Nihalani also adds that he never asked the producers to pay for the Censor Board screenings. "How will you do justice to their films if they are paying for your food," further adding that, "It's a question of principle, not money. I must have spent more than Rs 10 lakh from my own pocket, but I am not bothered about the money."
As Nihalani signs off, he says that he hasn't received any intimation of his removal as the Censor Board chief. "Till date, I have not been officially told that I have been replaced. I heard that the current chairperson has not assumed his duties yet. I had not taken a single day off when I was on duty," concluded the former chief.
CREDITS; MID-DAY
"The chairperson is not given salary as it's an honorary post, but there are certain facilities which he can avail of. However, I did not use any of them. I would buy water bottles and would use those in the office. I didn't use the office car that was assigned to me, I used my own car instead. I shelled out money for the petrol from my own pocket," said Pahlaj Nihalani in an interview with a leading tabloid.
He further added, "Whenever I travelled out of Mumbai, owing to my duties as a chairperson, I paid for everything — from air fare to the hotel bills." Nihalani's actions, he claims, were based on the simple idea of not wanting to burden the board in any way."
Nihalani also adds that he never asked the producers to pay for the Censor Board screenings. "How will you do justice to their films if they are paying for your food," further adding that, "It's a question of principle, not money. I must have spent more than Rs 10 lakh from my own pocket, but I am not bothered about the money."
As Nihalani signs off, he says that he hasn't received any intimation of his removal as the Censor Board chief. "Till date, I have not been officially told that I have been replaced. I heard that the current chairperson has not assumed his duties yet. I had not taken a single day off when I was on duty," concluded the former chief.
CREDITS; MID-DAY