Anurag Kashyap took money from AAP: Pahlaj Nihalani

The controversy over the upcoming film Udta Punjab threatened to snowball into a major political row on Wednesday as Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani faced all-round attack from the film fraternity which called for his sacking.

Meanwhile, as the film’s producers received massive support from the industry, they moved the Bombay high court on Wednesday seeking a copy of the order passed by the censor board’s “Review Committee” suggesting “13 changes” and removing the reference to Punjab in the film. Sources privy to the developments told this newspaper there are 94 references to Punjab in the film which the censor board has asked the producers to remove.

Mr Nihalani alleged that the film’s co-producer, Anurag Kashyap, may have taken money from the Aam Aadmi Party to make the drug-themed Bollywood film. Mr Nihalani, in response to jibes made at him, then declared that he was “proud to be the PM’s chamcha”.

The AAP hit back with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal saying the film was “censored on the BJP’s orders”, while Mr Kashyap retaliated to Mr Nihalani’s allegation by telling the CBFC chief to “prove that I have taken money from AAP”.