Pahlaj Nihalani is doing right thing as per government guidelines: Asha Parekh

Ever since he was appointed the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Pahlaj Nihalani has been in the news with his strict dos and don’ts for Hindi film-makers, often leading to controversies. But Nihalani seems to have found support from an unlikely quarter – ex-CBFC chief and yesteryear star, Asha Parekh.

“Censorship isn’t an easy thing. Whatever Mr Pahlaj NIhalani is doing, I think he is trying to do the right thing, as per the guidelines that the government has provided him with. So, in that case, if anything, the guidelines have to be changed,” says the veteran actor, adding that the “censorship should be there.”

Adding that usually, people don’t agree with her but she feels censorship is needed. “People don’t know about the B and C [grade] films that come to the CBFC. So, if you don’t have the Censor Board, those films would go scot-free and that would be [a] very bad [situation]. Those films [and makers] have to be asked to ‘stop,’” she says.

At the same time, the Dil Deke Dekho (1959) actor says that “ratings system can be brought in for Hindi films. “If it’s done, that’d a good thing. But sometimes, producers and directors – and its very controversial these days – come out with a lot of hungama (noise) as to how Censors isn’t passing a certain film. But they don’t try and see the real essence of the whole thing,” says the Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978) actor, who held the post of the CBFC chief from 1998 to 2001.

Parekh, who was the first female chairperson of the CBFC, insists that people nowadays have become “very sensitive and come up with objections for even small things.” She says: “They [film-makers, who target Censor Board for not clearing their films] don’t know how many cases get filed against the censor board.” Also, the veteran actor says that “as an ex-censor chief, I feel the censorship should start at home.”

“Parents should realise that if there’s an A-certificate film that they are going to watch, is it necessary to take the children along? My suggestion would be: forego the film if you can’t leave your children at home and if you have no other option but to take them along [to the film]. You have to forego certain things for your children. That’s why I feel that censorship starts at home,” says the actor, who recently came out with her autobiography.