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Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Karan Johar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra also have agendas; stars releasing their films on Eid have an agenda': Vivek Agnihotri
Director Vivek Agnihotri is busy making his trilogy 'on truth, on justice, and on life' with The Tashkent Files (2019), The Kashmir Files (2022), and the upcoming Delhi Files: The Bengal Chapter. He agrees that he makes 'agenda-driven' films, but unlike other filmmakers like Karan Johar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and the late Yash Chopra, his agenda is that of making socio-political films. 'Does Karan Johar not make agenda-driven films? He says family is the biggest thing, is that not an agenda? Yash Chopra ji made films on 'love is everything,' is that not an agenda? I love Karan, he's a wonderful director and producer, I don't have any problem with him. But he's established himself in the world of fashion, everyone in his films is fashionable, that's his life's agenda,' said Agnihotri. In the podcast on the YouTube channel of Digital Commentary, Agnihotri argued that everyone has an agenda. 'When Vidhu Vinod Chopra ji made Shikara (2020), then he said, 'No, everyone should forget what happened to Kashmiri Pandits. They should hug it out and forgive each other.' That was his agenda. Tell me, who doesn't have an agenda?' He claimed that if a star (read: Salman Khan) releases his films only on Eid (case in point: Sikandar), that's also an agenda. Agnihotri added that if a star only sings and dances and makes poor films, that's their agenda. He also quoted the examples of cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli whose agenda is to excel in life and on the field, whereas some other cricketers just want to earn by playing in the Indian Premier League, make girlfriends, and get popular on social media. 'It's not like I just make films like these. I talk about this too. My speeches are like this too. Their agenda reflects in every aspect of the life of a person with integrity,' added Agnihotri. 'My parents were freedom fighters. I get how India got its independence. If I'm talking about India's social conscience, am I not making three films on right to truth, right to justice, and right to life? I'm not making any faltu, bakwas films,' added Agnihotri. He also steered clear of supporting the agenda of the ruling party through his films. 'What's the relation between The Tashkent Files and the ruling party of today? I'm not pro-BJP, they accuse me of being pro-Narendra Modi. In 2014, people asked me to sign a petition to not make Narendra Modi the prime minister. I said, why would I do it? Why would I stop someone before giving them a fair shot? I don't even say I won't watch a particular film. Foolish people do that,' said Agnihotri. Also Read — Anurag Kashyap was a drunkard who palmed off work to Vikram Motwane': Vivek Agnihotri says it became difficult to deal with filmmaker 'Dharmendra and Sunny Deol were in BJP. Why does no one tell them they're BJP guys? They tell me! I didn't contest elections. Do you think I wasn't offered to? Do you think if I want to go into politics, I won't be able to? But I don't want to go. I just want to make films on politics. If I enter politics, I'd have to speak the party line,' argued Agnihotri.
News18
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Vivek Agnihotri Says Anurag Kashyap Was 'Difficult' On Goal Set: ‘Bahut Sharab Peeta Tha'
Last Updated: Vivek Agnihotri also recalled how the film's creative direction changed after Anurag Kashyap brought in another filmmaker. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, known for hard-hitting films like The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files, has opened up about his difficult working relationship with filmmaker Anurag Kashyap during the making of Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. In an interview with Digital Commentary, Agnihotri reflected on the chaos on set, largely due to Kashyap's drinking habits at the time. The director interrupted the host while discussing Anurag's recent controversial remarks on Brahmins to speak about his own professional experience with him. 'Leave anything about him, unki toh mansik halat kya hai mujhe nahi malum," he said. Recalling the film's early development, he revealed, 'I have worked with him. We were doing the film Goal together. He was the writer of the film. Saif Ali Khan and Priyanka Chopra were supposed to do it, but Saif had some personal issues at the time, so he left. Then we got John and Bipasha. Anurag uss time bahut sharab peeta tha toh usko time ka koi hisaab nahi tha." Agnihotri also recalled how the film's creative direction changed after Kashyap brought in another filmmaker. 'Phir voh Vikramaditya Motwane ko le aaye, bola mera ek ladka hai, vo help karega. Dheere dheere saara kaam Vikramaditya ko hi de diya. Main jo banana chah raha tha, yeh log ki soch kuch alag thi, yeh kuch aur hi banana chah rahe the." According to him, this shift in control led to clashes on set. 'Ultimately, we were at loggerheads. The production house had a word with Anurag… Anurag ko handle karna mushkil ho gaya. Because only an alcoholic knows what an alcoholic goes through. It became a very big problem." The film, backed by Ronnie Screwvala's UTV Motion Pictures, was directed by Agnihotri and starred John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Arshad Warsi, and Boman Irani. Released in 2007, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal was a sports drama that received mixed reviews and fared moderately well at the box office, especially when compared to that year's blockbuster Chak De! India. First Published:
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Vivek Agnihotri says it became difficult to handle Anurag Kashyap on Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal set: ‘Bahut sharab peeta tha'
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, known for The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files, recently opened up about his experience of working with director Anurag Kashyap. In an interview with Digital Commentary, Vivek recalled how Anurag's drinking habits during the making of Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal made the working environment challenging. (Also Read: Anurag Kashyap says Bollywood lacks the 'brains' to make a film like Pushpa: 'Everyone is trying to create a universe') Interrupting the interviewer during a discussion on Anurag Kashyap's recent controversial comments on Brahmins amid the Phule row, Vivek said, 'Leave anything about him, unki toh mansik halat kya hai mujhe nahi malum (I don't know anything about his mental wellbeing). I have worked with him. We were doing the film Goal together. He was the writer of the film. Saif Ali Khan and Priyanka Chopra were supposed to do it, but Saif had some personal issues at the time, so he left. Then we got John and Bipasha. Anurag uss time bahut sharab peeta tha toh usko time ka koi hisaab nahi tha (Anurag used to drink a lot at that time and had no sense of time).' Vivek went on to share how Anurag brought Vikramaditya Motwane into the project, which eventually shifted the creative direction. 'Phir voh Vikramaditya Motwane ko le aaye, bola mera RK ladka hai, vo help karega. Dheere dheere saara kaam Vikramaditya ko hi de diya. Main jo banana chah raha tha, yeh log ki soch kuch alag thi, yeh kuch aur hi banana chah rahe the (Then he brought Vikramaditya Motwane, saying 'he's my RK boy, he'll help out.' Gradually, all the work was handed over to Vikramaditya. What I wanted to make was different; their vision was entirely something else). Ultimately, we were at loggerheads. The production house had a word with Anurag… Anurag ko handle karna mushkil ho gaya (It became difficult to handle Anurag). Because only an alcoholic knows what an alcoholic goes through. It became a very big problem.' Produced by Ronnie Screwvala and directed by Vivek Agnihotri for UTV Motion Pictures, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal starred John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Arshad Warsi, and Boman Irani. The sports drama was only moderately successful at the box office and was released the same year as Chak De! India, which was a major hit. Vivek Agnihotri is currently gearing up for the release of The Delhi Files – Bengal Chapter, featuring Mithun Chakraborty in the lead. Meanwhile, Anurag Kashyap will appear as the antagonist in Dacoit: A Love Story, co-starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur. The film's release date is yet to be announced.
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Anurag Kashyap was a drunkard who palmed off work to Vikram Motwane': Vivek Agnihotri says it became difficult to deal with filmmaker
Controversial filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, best known for films such as The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files, recalled working with Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane on the film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. He said that Anurag was a drinker back then, which became difficult to handle on set. They also had differences over the direction in which to take the film, and Agnihotri implied that he also didn't see eye-to-eye with star John Abraham. In an interview with Hindi Rush, the filmmaker said that he has since quit mainstream Bollywood. Asked about his equation with Anurag, whose political ideologies are perceived to be different to Agnihotri's, the filmmaker commented about his 'maansik haalat (mental wellbeing)'. He added, 'Of course I've interacted with Anurag. We worked together on Goal. He was writing the movie. Saif Ali Khan and Priyanka Chopra were supposed to do it, but Saif had some personal issues at the time, so he left. Then we got John and Bipasha. Anurag was a heavy drinker back then, and he couldn't be trusted. He brought Vikram Motwane on board, who is a very talented guy. He told me, 'Mera naya ladka hai woh kaam karega'.' Also read – 'They don't have aukaat to boycott Ranbir Kapoor': Vivek Agnihotri says every filmmaker in Bollywood secretly badmouths stars, keeps paying them Rs 150 cr for 'sadi acting' He continued, 'Gradually, he palmed off all the work to Vikram. But they had a different vision for the film, which didn't match with mine. Ultimately, we were at loggerheads. The production house had a word with Anurag… He became difficult to handle, because only an alcoholic knows what an alcoholic goes through. It became a very big problem. We've worked closely, and we are cordial whenever we've met. But yes, he has said certain things about me on social media.' In a past interview with Mid-Day, Motwane recalled the experience of working with Agnihotri, and said that the original script he wrote with Anurag was one of the best things he's ever written. 'So, UTV was producing the film, and Vivek had approached them with this story idea that he wanted to do about football, and they said okay. But he wanted a really good writer, so they called up Anurag, and he said, 'Look, I know nothing about football, but this guy (Motwane) knows everything about football. So, I wrote it, and they were happy. The film got made, but not exactly in the way that Anurag and me wanted, to put it mildly. But it is what it is. At that time, it was like beggars can't be choosers, you got paid for work. I still believe the original script of mine is one of the best things I've written. I loved it. I'm crazy about football, and for me, it was a big passion thing about a sport I've loved.' Anurag has said in recent interviews that he no longer drinks. He said at an event in Annapurna College of Film and Media, 'When I was dealing with a lot of things in the industry, I was also an alcoholic for a brief period of time. I was an addict and I went to de-addiction centre, after which I discovered new details about my writing process.'
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘They don't have aukaat to boycott Ranbir Kapoor': Vivek Agnihotri says every filmmaker in Bollywood secretly badmouths stars, keeps paying them Rs 150 cr for ‘sadi acting'
Controversial filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, best known for films such as The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files, said that prominent filmmakers and producers in the Hindi-language industry are fed up of major stars and their financial demands. He said that every one of them badmouths stars behind their backs, but none of them has the courage to say anything to them. He also responded to a question about Animal director Sandeep Reddy Vanga bearing the brunt of the backlash for the film, while star Ranbir Kapoor was mostly left alone. In an interview with Hindi Rush, Agnihotri said that nobody has the courage to criticise Ranbir in the industry, implying that he is simply too powerful. 'Aukaat hi nahi hai inki, himmat hai karne ki, kar ke dikhayein (As if they have the courage to say anything about him. Who are they to criticise Ranbir? Let them try).' Also read – Vivek Agnihotri announces 'Bollywood is falling', says 'no promising new stars, actors can't speak Hindi, no fresh ideas' He continued, 'I challenge you to name one director or producer in Bollywood who doesn't badmouth these stars. Do they have the courage to say anything in public? They don't. So they deserve to suffer. Do phir Rs 150 crore ghatiya kaam ke, sadi hui acting ke (Then pay them Rs 150 crore for crap acting). They have attached their fortunes to stars, and this is why I quit Bollywood.' He said that his problem isn't with actual stars, but with people who have the airs of a star despite not having achieved anything.' In a recent interview, Vanga himself said that Ranbir was left alone in the aftermath of Animal's release, because producers didn't want to burn bridges with him. 'People who criticsed very badly, film related people, everybody said Ranbir was brilliant. I am not jealous of Ranbir but the point is 'Ranbir was brilliant but writer director was…' I don't understand the disparity,' he said in an episode of Game Changers, adding, 'I understood they want to work with Ranbir. That's clear because if they say anything to Ranbir… It's easy to make a comment about me because I am new for this place.'
