Anees Bazmee on Pahlaj Nihalani’s demise: This loss seems deeply personal

VEteran filmmaker-producer Pahlaj Nihalani passed aside on June 4 followers a prolonged malady. He was 75. As tributes persist in to pelt in from across the film industry, filmmaker Anees Bazmee has remembered his longtime friend and collaborator with whom he shared a bond spanning over three decades.Speaking to HT City, an emotional Bazmee says how Nihalani was much more than a producer to him. “Humari 33 saal ki dosti thi. Yeh rishta sirf producer aur writer ka nahi tha, hum bilkul family ki tarah the,” he shares.Fondly remembering Nihalani’s passion for filmmaking and the countless hours they spent discussing cinema while working together on films such as Shola Aur Shabnam and Aankhen, Anees shares, “Woh films ko lekar bahut hi passionate producer the. Mujhe yaad hai jab main unke saath Shola Aur Shabnam aur Aankhen likh raha tha, hum roz raat ko unke ghar baithte the. Kabhi-kabhi 3 ya 4 baje tak sirf filmon ki baatein karte rehte the. Unka cinema ke liye jo junoon tha, woh kamaal ka tha aur unhe bahut achchi samajh thi ki film kaise banani hai.”Bazmee reveals that he was out scouting locations for his next film when he learnt about Nihalani’s passing. The news left him deeply shaken. “Jaise hi mujhe pata chala, maine turant gaadi wapas ghumayi aur funeral ke liye nikal pada. Mujhe bahut bada shock laga. Aisa laga jaise mere khandaan ka, meri family ka koi insaan chala gaya ho,” he sharesSpekaing about their bond Anees shares how the veteran director always encouraged him. “Woh mujhe bahut mohabbat karte the. Unke jitne interviews maine dekhe hain, unmein woh meri tareef karte hue thakte nahi the. Main bhi unhe bahut pasand karta tha,” shares Anees. Recalling their professional journey together, Bazmee says he had worked closely with Nihalani during the early years of his career. “Maine unki kai filmon mein ghost writer ke taur par bhi kaam kiya tha. Uske baad maine unke liye Shola Aur Shabnam aur Aankhen likhi. Dono bahut badi hits thi aur humare rishte bahut achche the.”Sharing what he would miss most about Nihalani, Bazmee points to the producer’s infectious energy and deep understanding of cinema. “Main unki hansi, unka mazaak aur filmon ko lekar unka deewanapan sabse zyada miss karunga. Puri film ko samajhne ki jo unki kshamata thi, woh maine bahut kam producers mein dekhi hai.” While Bazmee eventually moved into direction and both became occupied with their respective careers, he says that the warmth and affection between them remained unchanged.