Latest news with #VivekAgnihotri
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Vivek Agnihotri slams John Abraham for ‘mediocre acting' in Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal: He couldn't say 5 lines of dialogue
Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri once again talked about the problems he faced while making the 2007 film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. In an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, the filmmaker recalled how John Abraham came on board due to Anurag Kashyap and took a dig at his acting skills, calling it "mediocre". (Also Read: Vivek Agnihotri says Bollywood is in shambles: 'There's a mad rush to release old films') Vivek Agnihotri takes a dig at John Abraham's acting skills. Vivek Agnihotri recently spoke about the behind-the-scenes events during the making of the film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. He revealed that when he was working on the film, the production house UTV didn't consider him a capable writer. According to him, UTV was fascinated by the idea of working with Anurag Kashyap, even though the film's subject did not align with him. Citing industry chatter, Vivek dismissed Anurag's claim that he wasn't even taken along for the film's London schedule, stating that John had come on board primarily because of Anurag. Vivek said that Goal was still a good film for its time, with the film's songs becoming chartbusters. He added, "But there were many problems during that time. In the middle of it all, Bipasha Basu and John Abraham broke up during the making of the film. When you're in love, you have to deal with one set of issues, and after a breakup, a whole new set of problems arises. So, it became very difficult for me to manage everything. Even though I was the director of the film, the entire system was functioning based on the intelligence of a very mediocre actor." Vivek criticises John Abraham, praises Anurag Kashyap Vivek criticised John for his "mediocre acting" and said, "Everyone was like, 'Let's take John, he is a footballer. That's how he became a part of the film. But you tell me, if it's a film about football, what should an actor do? We called a premium league coach to train Arshad Warsi, Raj Joshi, and they all put their soul in preparing, but in all of John's scenes, we had to shoot his face and feet separately. And Arshad had given his all for that film. He questioned me on things, he didn't tell me, 'reduce my dialogues' Why? Because you can't say them at once? You can't say five lines of dialogues in rhythm at once. This is your problem. Then why should these actor be given so much money?" About Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal is a 2007 Indian sports drama film directed by Vivek Agnihotri. Set in the UK, the film revolves around a struggling South Asian football club, Southall United, and their journey to regain lost glory. Featuring an ensemble cast including John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, and Bipasha Basu, the story explores themes of identity, racism, and community spirit through the lens of football. Meanwhile, Vivek is now awaiting the release of his upcoming directorial, titled The Bengal Files: Right to Life. It is believed that Vivek's film will delve into the politics of 1940s in Bengal. The film stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Govind Namdev, among others, in key roles and is scheduled to release in theatres on 5 September 2025.
India Today
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Vivek Agnihotri says Deepika Padukone was unaware of JNU politics during 2020 visit
Director Vivek Agnihotri shared his opinion on actor Deepika Padukone's 2020 visit to JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University).He said that Padukone may not have been aware of the politics at JNU during her an interview with Shubhankar Mishra for his YouTube podcast, Agnihotri claimed that the actor might have been persuaded by her PR team to join the students' protest at The 'The Bengal Files' director said, "I can guarantee that Deepika had no idea about JNU politics when she went there."On being interrupted about whether he was implying that the actor was not smart enough, Agnihotri further said, "It's not about being dumb.""Her PR must've told her that this is a good opportunity to promote your film, because the university is associated with politics, and the film is also political. If she had known, she wouldn't have come," the director went emphasised that associating with politics can lead to inevitable risks. He said, "You play with fire, you get burned.""I don't know her personally, so I don't know what ideology she aligns with. I do know that she is a very smart and intelligent woman," the director further said, "Had she known that this is a politically sensitive place and that it might impact her career, she would've definitely not gone.""During film promotions, there are too many voices telling stars what to do and who to speak to. Her PR was mistaken, they thought it was an event. But it wasn't an event. Bigger fish than her have been fried for getting involved in politics," he played an acid-attack survivor, Malti, in 'Chhapaak', based on a tragic real-life the promotion of her film, she visited JNU in solidarity with students protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).Agnihotri, known for being politically vocal on various issues, recently unveiled the teaser of his political-drama 'The Bengal Files'."The film features Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Puneet Issar and Saswata Chatterjee, among others in crucial roles.'The Bengal Files' is scheduled to release on September Watch
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vivek Agnihotri responds to Tanushree Dutta's allegations: 'Jab successful nahi hote toh...'
Director Vivek Agnihotri responded to Tanushree Dutta's allegations from 'Chocolate', calling industry pressure a cause for frustration. Dutta accused him of making her wear revealing clothes on set and being rude for arriving late. 'Chocolate' starred Irrfan Khan, Anil Kapoor, and others, directed by Agnihotri. Director Vivek Agnihotri has addressed the accusations made by actress Tanushree Dutta , who claimed he was rude during the filming of 'Chocolate'. Dutta alleged that Agnihotri made her wear revealing clothes and sit before the crew, even when not actively filming. Agnihotri's Response Responding to criticism, Vivek Agnihotri said on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast that the film industry creates immense pressure on actors to stay successful. He explained that when success doesn't come, it can lead to frustration and emotional instability, making it difficult for many to remain rational or mentally balanced. He further said that he chooses to forgive his critics and not dwell on their remarks. He prefers to stay away from unnecessary conflict, stating that he doesn't take such comments seriously and allows people to say what they want without letting it affect him. Tanushree Dutta's Allegations In a past conversation with Faridoon Shahryar, Tanushree had recounted an incident from the sets of Chocolate, where she claimed director Vivek Agnihotri shouted at her and labelled her unprofessional for being five minutes late. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo She pointed out that there were days when the set wasn't even ready, yet she was still targeted. Tanushree Dutta also alleged that she was denied basic comfort on set, claiming that despite being given revealing outfits for her role, she wasn't allowed to rest in her vanity van or cover up with a robe. She stated that the director insisted she remain on set in those clothes, in front of the entire crew. About 'Chocolate: Deep Dark Secrets' Released in 2005, 'Chocolate: Deep Dark Secrets' featured prominent actors like Irrfan Khan , Anil Kapoor , Emraan Hashmi , Sunil Shetty, and Tanushree Dutta. The movie was helmed by director Vivek Agnihotri.
News18
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
'Deepika Padukone Had No Idea About JNU Politics': Vivek Agnihotri Says PR Must Have Misled Actress
Last Updated: Vivek Agnihotri says Deepika Padukone didn't understand JNU politics during her protest visit, calls it a PR move. Vivek Agnihotri has shared his thoughts on Deepika Padukone's appearance at a student protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) back in 2020. Just days ahead of the release of her film Chhapaak, Deepika made headlines for silently standing in solidarity with students following an attack on campus. The move drew both praise and backlash. In a new interview with journalist Shubhankar Mishra, Vivek Agnihotri wondered whether Deepika Padukone truly understood the political weight of her visit. 'I can guarantee that Deepika had no idea about JNU politics when she went there," he said, suggesting her public appearance may have been solely driven by her team. When asked if he was implying Deepika wasn't smart enough to understand the situation, Agnihotri clarified, 'It's not about being dumb. Her PR must've told her that this is a good opportunity to promote your film, because the university is associated with politics, and the film is also political. If she had known, she wouldn't have come." He also pointed out the inevitable risks of stepping into political territory, even unintentionally. 'You play with fire, you get burned," he said, adding that Deepika is a smart woman who likely wouldn't have made the appearance had she known the full implications. 'I don't know her personally, so I don't know what ideology she aligns with. I do know that she is a very smart and intelligent woman. Had she known that this is a politically sensitive place and that it might impact her career, she would've definitely not gone. During film promotions, there are too many voices telling stars what to do and who to speak to. Her PR was mistaken, they thought it was an event. But it wasn't an event. Bigger fish than her have been fried for getting involved in politics," he said. In Chhapaak, Deepika portrayed Malti, a young woman who fights for justice and social change after a horrific acid attack. Though critically acclaimed for its sensitive storytelling and Deepika's powerful performance, the film struggled at the box office. First Published:
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Vivek Agnihotri slams Bollywood ‘Shahenshahs' who wave at crowds from balconies, inflate box office to make it seem like ‘Tiger Zinda Hai'
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri said that the practice of inflating box office collections is conducted only to boost the egos of movie stars. In recent years, it has been observed that several production houses buy tickets of their own movies in bulk, giving the impression that their films are a hit. In an interview, Agnihotri appeared to make references about three leading male movie stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Salman Khan. He was, however, extremely appreciative of Aamir Khan. He said that Aamir has changed the face of Hindi movies with his unconventional choices. In an interview with Shubhankar Mishra, he said, 'There was a time when the industry would take political stands. They would collect money in the event of earthquakes and floods. They'd go out on trucks. Sunil Dutt was the original Congressman who went on a march from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But these days, movie stars are happy to wave at thousands of people from their houses. I don't like that. They don't want to get their hands dirty. You are not a Shahenshah. Simply tweeting about an issue isn't enough.' Asked if this was a dig at Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, who are popularly known as Shahenshah and Badshah, Agnihotri said that he didn't mean it.' Also read – 'Is Deepika Padukone dumb?': Vivek Agnihotri says she was misled by her PR, 'had no idea' what she was getting into He continued, 'The film industry was at the forefront of every movement. Now they travel by chartered planes. They've ruined the country. They've turned Bollywood into a 'shampoo conditioner' industry. You've attached the industry to sex and glamour. Wasn't Deewaar about the nation? Weren't the films written by Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar about the nation? These days, the only person that the hero is fighting is his girlfriend's father. They've dumbed the industry down.' Asked about the practice of corporate bookings, Agnihotri said that the audience is too smart to be fooled by such tactics. This practice is done only to boost the egos of actors, he said. 'People have rate cards, this is an open secret… These are fraud numbers, this is done to satisfy the star's ego. They do this only to make the star feel like he's still alive, that Tiger Zinda Hai,' he said, seemingly making a reference to Salman Khan's hit film.
