Defending Nihalani, Khanna said that freedom of speech cannot be absolute and films in our country needed censoring to filter out bad and offensive content.
“I differ from people who say we have freedom of expression. If due to your freedom of expression, our students are going wayward and the landscape of our country’s security is being altered, I would stop them.
There has to be censorship. You can’t make anything. I am against it. Here in our country a film like Grand Masti runs and becomes a superhit. People say it’s their freedom of expression. My foot. One should make good films,” said Khanna.
Coming to the rescue of censor chief Nihalani, Khanna said, “Pahlajji is not wrong in certain things. When it is needed, it is needed. Don’t call him sanskari. Sanskar nahi rahenge toh aap bhi nahi rahoge (without cultural value system, even you won’t exist).”
Talking about Udta Punjab, the actor who was speaking at the Pride of India awards said, “I have not seen the film so I can’t say if it’s good or bad. B
ut bad things, if any, have to stop. Drug menace is spread all over India. Drugs are mixed with ice cream and sold to children outside schools. Why is that not being stopped? Police doesn’t know? Everyone knows about it.”