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Anurag Kashyap Leaks His Own Films To Create Controversies, Claims Pahlaj Nihalani

By Chirag Sehgal,News18

Copyright news18

Anurag Kashyap Leaks His Own Films To Create Controversies, Claims Pahlaj Nihalani

Producer Pahlaj Nihalani has levelled some fresh allegations against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. Nihalani, who was also the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between 2015 and 2017, recalled his clash with the filmmaker over his 2016 movie Udta Punjab. Nihalani claimed that even though the film’s co-producers Ektaa Kapoor and her mother Shobha Kapoor were ready to accept the cuts suggested by CBFC, Anurag opposed it.
“They were going to accept the cuts. His (Anurag Kashyap) film was not turning hot enough, despite creating so many controversies around it. Then Jeetendra (father of Ektaa Kapoor and veteran star) and CEO of the production company even came to get the certificate in the office, they came to get the cuts. We even had passed the language where it deserved, but wherever we found it unnecessary, we imposed cuts. We removed cuss words, but we remove even one single frame of the film,” Pahlaj Nihalani told Pinkvilla.
The former CBFC member further accused Kashyap of creating controversies around his films to create buzz. He also claimed that Anurag himself leaks his movies. “He thought six days are left for the film’s release, but it is not gaining any traction. This was Anurag‘s play, and he did it all the time,” he said and then added, “He would leak videos, this was his business point, and he cashes on that.”
What Was The Controversy Surrounding Udta Punjab?

The controversy surrounding Udta Punjab with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) began when the board demanded 94 cuts in the film. The CBFC objected to profanities, scenes of drug use, and references to Punjab, including the names of cities like Jalandhar, Chandigarh, and Amritsar. The board also wanted the makers to remove a scene where the lead character urinates in front of a crowd and demanded disclaimers acknowledging the government’s efforts to tackle the drug problem.
The film’s producers, Phantom Films and Balaji Motion Pictures, approached the Bombay High Court, which ruled in their favour, allowing the film’s release with just one cut – the scene where the character urinates on a crowd. The court also directed the CBFC to issue an ‘A’ certificate to the film.