Producer and ex CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalini passed away on Thursday, June 4 in Mumbai. He was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, admitted to the Nanavati hospital and had been suffering for the last four months. Nihalini had launched Govinda and shared a deep association with the actor. But they had an alleged fallout which the producer had also addressed in an interview a while ago. Meanwhile, Pahlaj had also reacted to Govinda's claims of being offered James Cameron's 'avatar. Nihalini had blamed David Dhawan for his relationship with Govinda going sour. He had said in an interview with Vickey Lalwani, "“He was a single-screen hero, and the time when multiplexes came, people stopped his films from releasing. Jab Govinda ka time aaya Partner ke baad toh uski filmein jitni aayi, logon ne usko neecha dikhaaya aur shows chalne nahi diye. David Dhawan uske saath kaam kar raha tha aur David Dhawan ne uske mind me zeher daal diya tha against me. Kyuki unko lagta tha main ne paisa kamaya, jabki meri picture sey unka naam hua (After Partner, many of his films were not released or stalled. David Dhawan was working with him that time and he poisoned his mind against me. He thought I was making money but did not see he also made his name with my films).”In another interview, he denied Govinda's claims of being offered 'Avatar'. He had said in an interview with Pinkvilla, ""Wo Avatar meri picture thi. Maine Rangeela Raja se pehle shuru ki thi. Pata nahi usko baad mein dhyaan aaya ki ye picture baad mein shoot karte hai. Baaki 6 din banayi thi maine. Aur pehle apan dusri shuru karte hai. Ye picture ke remake rights diye maine... Ab pata nahi wo kyu bolta hai kya bolta hai usko sach much aaya ke nahi aaya, lekin Avatar meri picture thi. Aaj bhi mere paas title registered hai. Pata nahi ab banaunga ke nahi banaunga." (That Avatar was actually my film. I had started it before Rangeela Raja. I don’t know if later on he remembered that the film could be made differently. I had already shot six days of it but then moved on to another project. I even gave the remake rights for it… I don’t know why he says such things, or whether he actually experienced it or not, but Avatar was my film. Even today, I still have the title registered in my name. I don’t know if I will make it or not.)" Pahlaj Nihalani served as the Association of Pictures and TV Programme Producers for almost three decades until he resigned in 2009. He was ousted as the CBFC chief on August 11, 2017, and soon Prasoon Joshi was appointed to the position.The first movie he produced was 'Haathkadi' in the year 1982. His second film, 'Aandhi Toofan', in 1985. His third flick 'Ilzaam', in 1986, marked the debut of Govinda. Next, Chunky Pandey made his debut with the Pahlaj Nihalani-backed movie 'Aag Hi Aag' in 1987.