I am not Sanskari, just following CBFC guidelines: Pahlaj Nihalani

Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani, who has been slammed by the media since it was reported that certain kissing scenes of the recently released James Bond franchise Spectre had been cut, claims that he just follows the given guidelines of CBFC, which hasn’t undergone drastic ammedments since its inception in 1952.

“I know that new generation producers and directors who have come in the industry think I am the villain. I have always given the right path to the industry and tried to bring new things and new revenue for the industry," Nihalani told Firstpost in an exclusive interview, adding, “I am a producer and I would see that producers are not harm or affected by CBFC. So that is my take to improvise the whole functioning.”

He also said, “I am not a Sanskari . Whatever act or guidelines are there, the panel is just following that. I have not framed the rule, it’s there since 1952.”

Putting speculations to rest regarding the media upheaval on Spectre scene cuts, he admits that the film had to be censored but it was well accepted by the makers. “When one asks for a U/A certificate, we have to keep the content for the U/A  audience; [we have to> see whether it is permissible for public acquisition. The producer was happy with the cuts. Some anonymous person gave a tip-off to the media and media went berserk reporting that I am sitting there, watching all the movies, cutting everything and doing dictatorship. They even named me Taliban and I don’t know how many titles I have got,” says Nihalani.

Upon asking him if CBFC is expected to be an autonomous body, independent of any political influence, he diplomatically says, “It’s already an autonomous body. In the past there was a ‘babu’ culture. They were very tough. But post that, this office has been occupied mostly by the people from the industry.”