Pahalaj Nihalani Slams Ektaa Kapoor, Says ‘She Gets Women Married Thrice'
Pahalaj Nihalani is known for directing films like Khushboo, Dil Ter Diwana, Shola aur Shabnam, Aankhen, Andaz and Paap Ki Duniya.
Veteran filmmaker and former CBFC chief Pahalaj Nihalani lashed out at producer Ektaa Kapoor. He accused her of causing the loss of traditional Indian culture through her television content. Speaking on the YouTube channel Learn From The Legend, the filmmaker shared his concerns about the changing face of the Indian entertainment sector and called Ektaa Kapoor's TV serials 'regressive and culturally confusing.'
'We, as an audience, are given stories about a woman getting married three times. Ektaa Kapoor, the great. Here, guys are not allowed to marry twice, and she marries these women three times! So the culture is slowly being destroyed and shifted," Nihalani said.
Furthermore, he criticised the over-sexualisation of content and said 'Previously, there were relatively few sensual films released, and now there is sex even in the air."
In addition, Nihalani showered praises on films like RRR and Kalki 2898 AD for their depiction of Indian culture. He shared, 'Take RRR, which was based on Ramayana and Mahabharata, and then in Kalki, the end was completely inspired by Mahabharata. Hindustani culture is still so strong in our society."
Ektaa Kapoor is known for producing adult content like Gandii Baat and Ragini MMS among others through her OTT platform Alt Balaji, now ALTT.
Moreover, Nihalani also recalled a moment from the making of the 2003 film Talaash: The Hunt Begins, in which Akshay Kumar insisted on Kareena Kapoor playing the female protagonist.
Nihalani noted that casting decisions used to be solely the responsibility of producers and directors, with actors rarely involved. He said, 'Previously, producers and directors did the casting, and actors did not intervene. Akshay, who starred in Talash in 2002, was the first actor to meddle with my casting. He assured me that 'we can start the movie tomorrow, and you can give me whatever amount you want, but the heroine of this film will be Kareena Kapoor.' It was one of the most expensive films of its time, costing Rs 22 crore. This was the first time in my career that an actor required a certain cast."
Nihalani is known for directing films like Khushboo, Dil Ter Diwana, Shola aur Shabnam, Aankhen, Andaz and Paap Ki Duniya.
First Published:
July 05, 2025, 16:01 IST
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