Anil Kapoor is ‘jhootha number one’, Madhuri Dixit is ‘gungi’; Boney Kapoor and his gang poached her from me: Pahlaj Nihalani

Former CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani reacted to comments made by actor Anil Kapoor about the film Andaz, which they reportedly clashed over several years ago. The film remains controversial for its perceived lewdness.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | June 19, 2025 12:01 PM IST

3 min read

Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla in a still from Andaz, produced by Pahlaj Nihalani.

Film producer and former CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani minced no words as he called actor Anil Kapoor a ‘liar’ for claiming that he raised his voice against shooting a song with suggestive lyrics and dance steps in the film Andaz. Nihalani said that Anil Kapoor actually praised the song, and said that it would be a sure-fire hit. He also accused the actor’s brother, film producer Boney Kapoor, of poaching Madhuri Dixit after he, Nihalani, discovered and signed her. In an interview with journalist Vickey Lalwani, the producer said that only Juhi Chawla raised an objection about the song’s moves when it was being filmed.

Responding to Anil Kapoor’s past comments about protesting against the song, Nihalani said, “I know of this interview. I told him off also once. He called Andaz a B grade movie. He was desperate to do it. Karisma begged me to be in it. People were desperate to work with me, and Anil Kapoor was one of them. He’s done so many B grade movies in his life, how can he say that he did Andaz for money?” Nihalani rejected any suggestion that the actor protested against the song being shot, and said, “He’s jhootha number one. This never happened. He must’ve heard the song ‘Khada Hai Khada Hai’ 50 times before we shot it. He’d say, ‘This song will make our film a hit’.”

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He admitted that Juhi Chawla was unsure about the moves, but he talked her into it by telling her that it would make sense in context. “Unlike Anil Kapoor, who was crazy about the song, and was sure that it would be a superhit. He’s spreading lies and defaming me. I’ve never made a B grade movie in my life!”

Nihalani had other objections against the Kapoor family. He said, “I signed Madhuri Dixit. I was the one who found her a secretary. She was about to do my movie, but people created problems. Boney Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Subhash Ghai and the lot spread the rumour that Govinda wouldn’t want to work with a newcomer like her. I signed her, I got her a secretary, I offered her a role, but she backed out. They trapped her with their lies. Madhuri the poor girl was a ‘gungi’. But Boney and his gang trapped her. Then I hired Neelam.”

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