Barely out of his role as Censor Board chief, Pahlaj Nihalani will be presenting and distributing ‘Julie 2’; an erotic sequel to the Neha Dhupia film from 2004.
Mumbai Mirror reported that Nihalani, who had a problem with the word ‘intercourse’ in an earlier film, has worldwide distribution rights to the Raai Laxmi starrer.
The film’s director, Deepak Shivdasani, had also directed the 2004 flick and told the tabloid that Nihalani was family to him. Shivdasani is quoted saying that Nihalani watched the film with his wife and said he would present the film after the screening.
Pahlaj Nihalani will be 'presenting' Julie 2 because he has taken over the world distribution rights from Deepak Shivdasani for the film. He has been a leading distributor over the years and this movie will be released through his company. It means Nihalani will release the movie across the world through his company. It can be done directly through exhibitors or he will sell rights for different territories to other distributors.
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“It’s a content-driven film and Pahlajji had no objections to any of the scenes,” the director reportedly said.
Here is a teaser of the film:
Mirror also reached out to Nihalani, who was also of the opinion that it was a film with a ‘message’ for “aspiring actors who come from across the county and don’t get the right people or platform.” He is also quoted saying that his family loved the film, and that there would be no cuts required in the film as he has always worked within the ‘guidelines’. “Julie 2 should be given an ‘A’ certificate without any cuts. There is no vulgarity, obscenity or even a language problem,” he reportedly said.
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Nihalani has been no stranger to controversy during and even prior to his tenure as the self-proclaimed ‘sanskaari’ Censor Board chief. From banning Lipstick Under My Burkha for being 'female-oriented' to asking the makers of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jab Harry Met Sejal to get one lakh endorsements through a news organisation so that he would ask the I&B ministry to un-censor the word ‘intercourse’ in the film, Nihalani received flak from both movie goers and filmmakers.
The ‘presenter’ of Julie 2, an erotic thriller, had asked filmmakers of a documentary on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to get an NOC from Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others if they want their film released.
He had denied certification to Alankrita Shrivastava's film, Lipstick Under My Burkha, citing the film as ‘lady oriented’.
