Latest news with #VivekAgnihotri
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Vivek Agnihotri Says ‘Star-Kid Obsession' Is Hurting Bollywood: ‘A Common Man Can't Make Entry'
Last Updated: Vivek Agnihotri blames Bollywood's decline on star-kid obsession, lack of new talent, and undervaluing writers. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has delivered yet another blunt critique of the Hindi film industry, this time targeting its lack of inclusivity, over-reliance on star kids, and disregard for writers. Speaking with Siddharth Kannan, the director said Bollywood's closed-door culture is stifling new talent and weakening its creative core. 'It is because there has been no new talent entering the film industry. A common man cannot make an entry," Vivek said. Using the example of Shah Rukh Khan, he argued that if the superstar were to debut today without English fluency or an elite background, he might never get through the doors of a studio. He criticised the current selection process that prioritises Instagram followers over acting ability, questioning how aspiring actors from smaller cities like Kanpur, Jhansi, or Visakhapatnam could ever break in. 'So what happens is, they take kids from film families. Also, star kids want to become influencers, and influencers want to become stars," he added. 'Writers Ki Koi Aukaat Nahi Hai' Vivek also took aim at the sidelining of writers in Bollywood, which he believes is damaging the quality of Hindi cinema. 'Writers ki koi aukaat nahi hai. Stars aur studios ne unki aukaat cheen li hai. They've made a nexus. Studios want numbers, and for that, they want stars… The writer gets ₹10, while the star gets ₹10,000," he said. He pointed out that the overexposure of star kids on social media — from their outfits to their workouts — strips away the audience's ability to imagine them as different characters. This, combined with poor writing, results in films lacking depth and authenticity. Vivek's Upcoming Film: The Bengal Files Despite his criticism of the industry, Vivek Agnihotri continues to make politically charged films that aim to provoke discussion. His next project, The Bengal Files, follows the controversial success of The Kashmir Files. The upcoming film will explore West Bengal's history of political violence and ideological conflict, with a star-studded cast featuring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumar. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘Writers ki koi aukaat nahi hai': Vivek Agnihotri reveals why Bollywood is not doing well
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, known for his outspoken views and hard-hitting films, has once again stirred the pot, this time calling out the lack of new talent, the star-kid obsession, and the broken economics of the Indian film industry. Vivek Agnihotri highlights the challenges new talent faces in Bollywood, attributing it to nepotism and a lack of respect for writers.(Hindustan Times) Vivek says no new talent introduced from outside In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Vivek said, 'It is because there has been no new talent entering the film industry. A common man cannot make an entry. If Shah Rukh Khan comes today and if he can't speak English or belong to an elite background, how would he make an entry to a studio? If your criteria is to have this many followers on Instagram and then on that basis your acting will be judged, then how will a person from Kanpur, Jhansi or Vishakhapatnam? He will not be able to make an entry. So what happens is, they take kids from film families. Also, star kids want to become influencers, and influencers want to become stars.' He pointed to the overexposure of star kids on social media — constantly showcasing what they wear, eat, drink, or how they work out — which, according to him, has robbed them of being imagined into a particular character. He also mentioned the less importance given to writers, which is leading to the quality degeneration of Hindi films. 'Writers ki koi aukaat nahi hai. Stars aur studios ne unki aukaat cheen li hai. They've made a nexus. Studios want numbers, and for that, they want stars, and they would do anything to get a star. The writer gets ₹10, while the star gets ₹10,000. (Writers have no worth anymore. The stars and studios have taken away their value. They've formed a nexus. Studios only care about numbers, and for that, they want stars — any kind of star. The writer gets ₹10, while the star gets ₹10,000.)' Vivek's latest work Vivek Agnihotri is set to expand his slate of politically charged series with his upcoming film, The Bengal Files. After the controversial yet successful The Kashmir Files, Vivek now turns his lens to the turbulent history of political violence and ideological unrest in West Bengal. Featuring a powerful ensemble cast including Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumar, The Bengal Files is poised to spark conversation and debate, much like its predecessor.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vivek Agnihotri reacts to Anurag Kashyap's ‘jhoota aadmi' jibe, says he stands by remarks on drinking habits: 'But I never said Anurag is a bad guy'
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has addressed Anurag Kashyap 's recent remark calling him a 'jhoota aadmi' (liar), offering a pointed yet measured response. While acknowledging Kashyap's unparalleled impact on Indian cinema, Vivek maintained that his earlier statements about the director's drinking habits were factual. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Vivek remarked, 'Usko chhodo. Woh raat mein kya bolta hai, subah kya bolta hai, dono mein farak hai... Yes, I had talked about his drinking habits, and that's the truth. But I never said Anurag is a bad guy — he is a wonderful guy. His contribution to Indian cinema is unprecedented. There can be only one Anurag Kashyap. When Indian cinema's history is written, people will remember him. ' Fallout dates back to 'Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal' The fresh exchange comes after Anurag publicly called Vivek a liar on social media, reigniting tensions that have lingered since their professional fallout during the making of the 2007 sports drama Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, starring John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, and Bipasha Basu. Vivek reiterated that his film was impacted by Kashyap's alcoholism, adding, 'What's wrong with that? I used to drink a lot during a time period in my life, and suffered at work because of it. It happens. I stand by my point that he gave his work to Vikramaditya Motwane. You can ask the company that hired them.' 'I don't work with mediocre actors': 'The Vaccine War' director Vivek Agnihotri on casting wife Pallavi Joshi in his films Both filmmakers busy with upcoming projects Vivek Agnihotri is gearing up for his next politically charged film, The Bengal Files. This upcoming drama will delve into West Bengal's history of political violence and ideological conflicts. The film features Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumar in key roles. Meanwhile, Anurag Kashyap is working on Nishaanchi, an action drama that will mark the acting debut of Balasaheb Thackeray's grandson, Aaishvary Thackeray. The teaser for the film dropped on Friday.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Move over Aamir Khan, Vivek Agnihotri announces his own Mahabharat; wants to join hands with Karan Johar: ‘Bhakti doesn't have a budget'
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has joined the growing list of film personalities who've announced their intention to adapt the mythological epic Mahabharat into a grand film. In an interview, he said that he has been working on a Mahabharat adaptation for years, and assumes that it will be the last film project of his career were it to be made, because he wouldn't be able to top it. Similar statements have previously been made by director SS Rajamouli, and actor Aamir Khan. Aamir, in fact, said that he is beginning work on his Mahabharat imminently. Agnihotri told Siddharth Kannan that he is open to collaborating with filmmaker Karan Johar on the project, provided their visions are in alignment. He also appeared to take a dig at Prabhas' epic bomb, Adipurush, and the upcoming Ramayana adaptation headlined by Ranbir Kapoor, when he said that such films cannot be mounted as 'commercial projects'. Much was written about Adipurush's estimated budget of Rs 700 crore, while Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra has gone on the record to say that his movie costs around Rs 4000 crore. Agnihotri said, 'I've been working on several years on an adaptation of the Mahabharat, based on a book by SL Bhyrappa, called Parva. It's considered to be one of the greatest interpretations of the Mahabharat, out of thousands of interpretations. One of the most revered and respected interpretations. He asked me to make a movie on it, and I got the rights. My heart tells me that I should move away from politics… The thing is, you can't make stories based on the Ramayan and the Mahabharat as commercial projects. If you do, you'll get into trouble one way or another.' 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, 'You don't need a grand scale. Bhakti doesn't have a budget. People will find God in a rock, and they'll view expensive temples as museums if they want to. I don't want my Mahabharat to be a 'film', with stars and a budget and everything that comes along with it. If it was a film for me, I would've made it already. It's a personal experience for me, and after this, I won't do anything else. That will be the last work of my life. I won't retire, but how can anybody ever top the Mahabharat?' Asked if he would ever want to collaborate with Karan Johar on a project, Agnihotri said, 'Why not? If Karan offers to produce Mahabharat for me, why would I say no? If he needs a director who can do the job, and if I can get the production support that he can bring, why not? Of course, our visions would have to align.' Agnihotri worked for several years as a director for hire, before pivoting away from commercial cinema and directing the incendiary film The Kashmir Files. It earned divisive reactions from inside and outside the film industry, with many accusing him of promoting hate speech and spreading propagandist ideas. He had attracted similar backlash, but to a far smaller degree, after directing The Kashmir Files. In the interview, Agnihotri predicted even bigger controversy around his new film, The Bengal Files, which is scheduled to be released on September 5.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Challenge Accepted...": Vivek Agnihotri Slams Trinamool Over 'Bengal Files'
Kolkata: ' The Bengal Files ', the newest film from Vivek Agnihotri - whose past offerings include the hugely controversial ' The Kashmir Files ' and 'The Tashkent Files' - has kicked up a row even before its September 5 release date, with the director throwing a challenge to the ruling Trinamool Congress. Faced with multiple police complaints - including one in Murshidabad, the scene of communal violence in April over changes to Waqf laws, which govern Muslim charitable properties - he hit out at attempts to "the truth (about Hindu genocide)" and said the trailer for the film would release first in Bengal. Mr Agnihotri, in the United States to promote his film, posted a lengthy video statement on X, in which he also slammed the Trinamool for obstructing his movie and accused the ruling party of wanting to "trap us with legal hassles so we can't focus on the film". "As you know, I am in the United States promoting my new movie, 'The Bengal Files'. Let me tell you that this is, most definitely, the most important film on Hindu genocide... it uncovers so many dark chapters of our history that vested interests had covered up," he said. "But while I am here, you won't believe it... the ruling party of West Bengal and their members have been filing so many FIRs against us in different cities. That is their strategy." Important & Urgent: Multiple FIRs have been filed against me by the West Bengal govt for making #TheBengalFiles. The Hon'ble High Court has stayed them. Why do they want to silence us? Why are they so scared of the truth? I will not be silenced. Pl Watch & Share.… — Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) August 5, 2025 "I was quiet... did not share this information with anyone because we were taking legal recourse and now have good news. The Calcutta High Court has given a stay on the FIRs." The complainants had alleged the release of 'The Bengal Files' could lead to communal disharmony in the state, particularly with months to go for an Assembly election. However, a single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta ordered an interim stay on the police complaints till August 26. The next hearing will be on August 19. Celebrating the interim stay, Mr Agnihotri also criticised the Trinamool for not allowing him to shoot the film in the state. "Why do they not want this dark chapter in the history of Murshidabad to come out in the public. Are there against me or the film or the truth?" READ | "Hindus Targeted, Local Cops Absent": Murshidabad Violence Report Neither the Trinamool nor Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has responded so far. Ms Banerjee ran into headwinds in May 2023 after she banned the screening of another controversial movie, 'The Kerala Story' by Sudipto Sen. The state argued certain scenes could affect peace and harmony in Bengal. However, the Supreme Court later set aside the ban. The court said legal provisions could not be used to put a premium on public intolerance. Bengal is prepping for a critical election next year. The BJP and its brand of muscular nationalism has lost three consecutive major elections to Mamata Banerjee, starting with the 2019 Lok Sabha poll. In 2021 the Trinamool thumped the BJP, winning 215 of 294 Assembly seats. But the BJP won 77 - a massive uptick from the six it won in 2016. Ms Banerjee, a vocal and no-holds barred critic of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has declared herself and her party ready for Round 4, telling her arch-rival, "If you have courage, go for an election tomorrow. We are ready... Bengal is ready... people are with us."
