Here is a rare moment in the annals of the Central Board of Film Certification: its pugnacious chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani was cornered in an elevator on Friday for two-and-a-half minutes after losing a challenge over Imtiaz Ali’s upcoming movie Jab Harry Met Sejal.

Earlier, the CBFC chief had refused to clear a promo of the film featuring the word ‘intercourse’ for television. He had said that he would clear the teaser if he received one lakh public votes in support of the word.

Nihalani added a condition: he wanted the votes from unmarried Indians who are at least 36 years old. The television channel Mirror Now, to whom Nihalani had earlier made the statement, ran a poll on Twitter asking if ‘intercourse’ was acceptable. With 80% of the votes in support of the word, a reporter from the channel dropped in on Nihalani to elicit his views. She got nothing, as you can see here.

What did the other people in the elevator feel about the moment? Comedian Jose Covaco had a ringside view of the events.