As the film industry mourns the demise of veteran producer and former CBFC chairman Pahlaj NihalaniSeveral old interviews of the outspoken filmmaker are resurfacing online. One of them is the shocking details of the health crisis that left him fighting for his life and lying in a hospital bed for almost a month. The producer, who is known for backing films like ‘Ilzaam’, ‘Aankhen’, ‘Shola Aur Shabnam’ and ‘Aag Hi Aag’, had once talked in detail about that horrific incident and how close he came to avoiding it.What started as a routine gathering at home soon turned into a nightmare. Nihalani had recalled that some members of the film unit he was associated with had arrived unexpectedly one evening. Since there was not enough food prepared at home, the group decided to order dinner from a restaurant.Typically someone who preferred home-cooked food, Nihalani reluctantly joined the others. “Chicken is the only non-vegetarian item I eat, so they urged me to join them. Out of politeness I agreed. As soon as I ate the chicken, I knew something was wrong. But others assured me it was fine,” he had shared with Bollywood Hungama. At that time, he put aside his doubts and continued eating.A few hours later, the experienced producer started feeling uneasy. Initially he thought it was a minor stomach problem and once he vomited, he tried to rest. However, the situation escalated dramatically at midnight. “At around 3 am, I vomited a lot of blood. That’s when I panicked and called my son. Luckily, he lives in the same building,” Nihalani recalled. His family immediately arranged for medical attention and took him to the hospital.Doctors admitted him to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, where he stayed for 28 days. The experience was particularly difficult because it occurred during the pandemic, when hospital visits were heavily restricted. He had shared, “I was in Nanavati hospital for the next 28 days. Due to the pandemic no one was allowed to meet me. I spoke to my wife on video call.” For someone who had rarely faced major health problems, being in the hospital for a long period of time was physically and emotionally exhausting.

Gratitude to family and doctors

Given the ordeal, Nihalani repeatedly credited her family and medical team for helping her survive. He expressed special appreciation to Dr. Jayant Barve and the doctors who treated him from the moment he reached the hospital. He had said, “Within a few hours all my tests were done. I was lucky. Anyone with a less caring family and a less attentive medical team would have died. I have been pulled out of the clutches of death.” The producer admitted that there were moments when no one knew how the situation would unfold.Since the incident occurred at a time when COVID-19 was dominating the headlines, there was speculation about the cause of his illness. Nihalani had clearly denied those rumors and revealed that he had recovered from COVID-19 months ago. “No, it was not. I contracted Covid in April 2020. I recovered at home. It was much more serious. I was hospitalized for the first time in my life. No one knew whether I would come out alive or not.” I survived because God and my family were with me,” he had said.

A lesson that Pahlaj Nihalani never forgot

The experience left a lasting impression on the producer. Believing that the crisis was caused by the food served that evening, he considered taking legal action against the establishment in question. More importantly, he used this incident as a cautionary tale for others. He warned, “This could have been the last meal of my life. Everyone who ate that night was ill. But I suffered the most. I urge everyone to eat only home-cooked food during these difficult times.”Today, as colleagues, friends and fans remember Pahlaj Nihalani’s contribution to Indian cinema, this remarkable story stands as a testament to his resilience. Long before his passing, the creator had already survived one of the toughest battles of his life, and came out of it with renewed gratitude for family, health, and other opportunities.