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India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Exclusive: Vivek Agnihotri on India's soft power, 10 US premieres of Bengal Files
Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri on Friday announced that he would showcase his upcoming film 'The Bengal Files' at 10 grand premieres in the US. In an interview with India the director now opened up on promoting his film as 'India's soft power', and beginning the worldwide promotions first than marketing the film in India.'The Bengal Files', which is the third chapter in his trilogy, will be screened at mega-premieres across the United States, starting July 19 in New Jersey and concluding on August 10 in Houston. The premiere tour will include special screenings in key cities like Chicago, Atlanta, Washington DC, Raleigh, Tampa, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay spoke about his decision to screen the film in the US first, and said, "At the time of 'The Kashmir Files', the first film of my trilogy, I had realized that Indian films don't work as the soft power for India to create a grand narrative in the world. Therefore, we decided to showcase our films in different parts of the world, even before they are released in India. We have seen the success of the Kashmir Files, we have seen the grand, unprecedented success of 'The Kashmir Files'." The director said his films stand for the truth, the kind of uncomfortable narrative that most filmmakers shy away from. He explained, "Because these narratives people wanted to know, these truths people wanted to know, but nobody was telling them. The films which had truth in them were made small like our films, but they were only for domestic consumption, and the world never got to know about those stories. So therefore, instead of going to the international market, we decided that we will go top to down."advertisementAgnihotri talked about what he called the 'top to bottom' approach for the promotion of his film. He said the journey of 'The Bengal Files' promotions will begin in the US with the 10 grand premieres across the country."We will start with international market and come to India. This is something which is very close to my heart, and I am very very happy, delighted and proud that the Bengal Files is going to reach people in US, policymakers, congressmen, senators, media people, blacks, Jews, people from different diverse international communities, and they will understand that what happens when a community is being persecuted for more than 1000 years. And it also gives a message that why it is so important for every citizen of the world to protect humanity," he went on. Agnihotri continues, "And this film conveys that, and that's why I am taking this film to the USA, and all the local organisers and our national partners in the USA, Kohona and GKPD, are working so hard. And this work is done only by volunteers. It's not a commercial project; it's a purely philanthropic charity and non-profit exercise by the volunteers who want to promote truth cinema."advertisementAgnihotri's decision to promote 'The Bengal Files' in the overseas market first also comes from the audience's response to 'The Kashmir Files' in the same market. The filmmaker enjoys a growing global appeal and the rising excitement for his kind of cinema beyond India.A teaser for 'The Bengal Files' was released earlier this month, featuring all the prominent cast members. One striking scene featured Goddess Durga's idol engulfed in flames. Later, as the scene became a topic of discussion on social media, the filmmakers clarified that they had backed the story by thorough teaser was headlined as: "If Kashmir hurt you, then Bengal will haunt you."The Bengal Files is written and directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Pallavi Joshi. It stars Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, and Darshan Kumar. The film, presented by Tej Narayan Agarwal and I Am Buddha, is a part of Agnihotri's Files trilogy that includes 'The Kashmir Files' and 'The Tashkent Files'. It will arrive in theatres on September 5, 2025.- Ends
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
John Abraham doesn't deserve to be paid in crores, says Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri. 'He asked..'
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Concerns Over John Abraham's Performance Personal Issues Spilled Onto the Set Creative Vision Overshadowed by Celebrity Influence Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Commercial Outcome and Future Plans ( Originally published on Jun 21, 2025 ) Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri , who is often known for his bold viewpoints and politically intense narratives, has once again touched upon the turbulent creative journey of his 2007 sports drama Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal . In a recent conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, he spoke frankly about the disputes that occurred during the making of the film—particularly the disagreements with screenwriter Anurag Kashyap and the disappointments surrounding lead actor John Abraham 's performance. Agnihotri's remarks pull back the curtain on how hierarchical pressures and celebrity-driven decisions can derail the original vision of a director did not hold back when discussing John Abraham, the lead actor of the film. According to Agnihotri, the actor—who later starred in films like Ek Villain Returns—struggled with his dialogues. He alleged that John requested his lines be shortened, which suggested to the director a lack of preparedness or ability to deliver extended dialogues fluently. Agnihotri seemed particularly disturbed by the idea of high remuneration for actors who, in his view, were unwilling to meet basic acting expectations.'If an actor asks for reduced lines because he can't deliver five sentences in rhythm, then why is he being paid crores?" he told the to the strain, Agnihotri recalled a tense emotional environment during the shoot, as John Abraham was reportedly undergoing a breakup with then-girlfriend Bipasha Basu . The director explained that the emotional fallout between the couple had a ripple effect on the film's atmosphere, making it even more difficult for him to maintain focus and steer the team lamented that the original promise of Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal was undermined by various artistic sacrifices. While the movie featured a catchy soundtrack and carried the potential for success, it ended up being bogged down by off-screen drama, egotistical demands, and insufficient dedication from key players. He remarked that when energy is redirected from script integrity and cinematic storytelling toward accommodating inflated egos and managing underperformance, the soul of a film inevitably the film was released in 2007, it received mixed reactions and failed to make a lasting mark at the box office. According to Sacnilk, it collected around Rs 18 crore in gross revenue. The underwhelming performance reinforced Agnihotri's sense of lost potential. Presently, he is preparing for the release of The Bengal Files, a film that follows his controversial yet commercially triumphant The Kashmir Files, continuing his pattern of provocative Abraham's most recent appearance was in the political drama The Diplomat, a film directed by Shivam Nair and penned by Ritesh Shah. The story delves into the complex world of diplomatic missions, unraveling the emotional and moral dilemmas faced by diplomats navigating the strained relations between India and Pakistan. Despite its intense subject and star power, the film failed to make an impact at the box office. With a production budget of ₹50 crore, it managed to collect only ₹53 crore, rendering it a commercial disappointment. Abraham is now gearing up for his upcoming projects — Tehran and Tariq — both of which are expected to showcase him in equally gripping roles.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
John Abraham doesn't deserve to be paid in crores, says Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri. 'He asked..'
Concerns Over John Abraham's Performance Personal Issues Spilled Onto the Set Creative Vision Overshadowed by Celebrity Influence Commercial Outcome and Future Plans Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri , who is often known for his bold viewpoints and politically intense narratives, has once again touched upon the turbulent creative journey of his 2007 sports drama Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal . In a recent conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, he spoke frankly about the disputes that occurred during the making of the film—particularly the disagreements with screenwriter Anurag Kashyap and the disappointments surrounding lead actor John Abraham 's performance. Agnihotri's remarks pull back the curtain on how hierarchical pressures and celebrity-driven decisions can derail the original vision of a director did not hold back when discussing John Abraham, the lead actor of the film. According to Agnihotri, the actor—who later starred in films like Ek Villain Returns—struggled with his dialogues. He alleged that John requested his lines be shortened, which suggested to the director a lack of preparedness or ability to deliver extended dialogues fluently. Agnihotri seemed particularly disturbed by the idea of high remuneration for actors who, in his view, were unwilling to meet basic acting expectations.'If an actor asks for reduced lines because he can't deliver five sentences in rhythm, then why is he being paid crores?" he told the to the strain, Agnihotri recalled a tense emotional environment during the shoot, as John Abraham was reportedly undergoing a breakup with then-girlfriend Bipasha Basu . The director explained that the emotional fallout between the couple had a ripple effect on the film's atmosphere, making it even more difficult for him to maintain focus and steer the team lamented that the original promise of Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal was undermined by various artistic sacrifices. While the movie featured a catchy soundtrack and carried the potential for success, it ended up being bogged down by off-screen drama, egotistical demands, and insufficient dedication from key players. He remarked that when energy is redirected from script integrity and cinematic storytelling toward accommodating inflated egos and managing underperformance, the soul of a film inevitably the film was released in 2007, it received mixed reactions and failed to make a lasting mark at the box office. According to Sacnilk, it collected around Rs 18 crore in gross revenue. The underwhelming performance reinforced Agnihotri's sense of lost potential. Presently, he is preparing for the release of The Bengal Files, a film that follows his controversial yet commercially triumphant The Kashmir Files, continuing his pattern of provocative cinema.
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘I don't drink like Anurag Kashyap, I'm wiser than Anubhav Sinha': Vivek Agnihotri strikes down comparisons
Director Vivek Agnihotri has made a name for himself with his highly polarising and controversial brand of filmmaking. The first two movies of his 'Files' trilogy, The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files, divided audiences and were branded by some of them as propaganda. In a recent interview, Vivek shut down comparisons with his contemporaries, like Anurag Kashyap and Anubhav Sinha, while making another comment about Kashyap's supposed 'drinking-problem.' While making an appearance on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Vivek defended his choice of films, and cited reasons behind why he felt compelled to make them. When the host told him that many people consider him to be the 'right-wing Anurag Kashyap', Vivek was swift to strike down the comparison. He said, 'I don't drink like him, though.' He added, 'People who like Anurag and watch his films only focus on the fault lines of this country. I focus on the greatness of this nation.' He said that he wasn't playing into any propaganda, and the decision behind making the trilogy was his own. ALSO READ: 'Is Deepika Padukone dumb?': Vivek Agnihotri says she was misled by her PR, 'had no idea' what she was getting into He said, 'This was my choice, the trilogy, and I decided to make these movies back in 2010. There have been several documentaries made on the Gujarat riots. People have already talked about it, and there is nothing new to bring to the screen.' He also distanced himself from another fellow director, Anubhav Sinha. The host told Vivek that when Anubhav made an appearance on the podcast, he told him that he would not be willing to work with Kangana Ranaut because of their ideological differences. Anubhav said, 'Agar aadmi hi na pasand ho, toh kaam kaise kare (If you don't like the person, you can't work with them).' To this, Vivek said that there are a lot of people who he works with who don't necessarily align with his ideals or beliefs, but they are professional enough to put their differences aside, and so is he. He stated, 'That is Anubhav's own thinking; I am too wise for that. I can draw that line between the people I am working with. I don't have any personal conversations with the people that I am working with, and many of the people in my movies don't believe in the same ideologies that I do. So many people in the Bengal Files are themselves Bengali, but I work with national award-winning actors who are professional enough to get the job done.' The final instalment of the trilogy, The Bengal Files, is all set to release on September 5. The cast of the film includes Darshan Kumaar, Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Dibyendu Bhattacharya and Saswata Chatterjee. This time the theme for the film is around the 'right to life'. The Tashkent Files was centred around the 'right to truth', while the Kashmir Files explored the 'right to justice'. This isn't the first time that Vivek has taken a dig at Anurag's supposed drinking problem. He told Digital Commentary recently, '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'.' Anurag responded on Instagram, calling him a 'liar'. They worked together on the film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal.
Hindustan Times
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Reddit names Bollywood films that deserved sequels but never got one: Go Goa Gone, Chandni Chowk to China, and more
Emraan Hashmi's Ground Zero explores Kashmir's complexity, joining films like The Kashmir Files, Uri, Haider, Highway, and Shaurya that delve into the region's political, personal, and emotional landscapes through nuanced storytelling and powerful performances.
