EXCLUSIVE: Vivek Agnihotri breaks silence on people calling him Islamophobic after The Kashmir Files release

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri is garnering praises from everyone for the success of his recently released film The Kashmir Files. The film has already entered the Rs 200 crore club, despite facing competition from Bollywood big films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, Bachchhan Paandey and Radhe Shyam. However, after the release of the film, there was a certain section that didn’t agree with the film and has expressed hatred towards the movie. In fact, a video of people shouting slogans and anti-Muslim hate speeches in the theatres were going viral on social media. There were videos of groups calling for targeting the Muslim community.

Now, reacting to the same, in an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Vivek mentions the people were planted to defame and discourage the film. The director mentions that it was a political matter. Vivek told us, “It is an important thing you’re asking; it requires long discussion on this but briefly I’ll tell you, yes, the one and two videos shown to me, and it was found that most of the cases were planted by people to defame the film and discouraged the film and these are political tactics that you may not understand but we do understand.”

He then added, “Agar aap thodasa bhi political experience hoga, aapko samjh mein aayega ki kya sach hai aur kya jhoot hai aur ek do cases mein planted tha to kind of generate the reaction that you had just now, to provoke you taaki aap aisa soche. For example, Aur ye sach bhi tha, kisine kisiko maara toh nahi, there was no physical violence, it was freedom of expression.”

 

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Giving an example of the time when the holocaust happened and Schindler’s List was released, many Jews were abusing everyone and society didn’t react to it but listened. “Society sunna and accept kiya kyuki jab kisipe bohot zulm hota hai and jab uss zulm ko koi accept nahi karta, recognise nahi karta aur wo kuch bhi bolne ki koshish karta hai toh bolte hai tum toh communal ho, ha tum Islamophobic ho, how can you say that. Toh agar kisi maa ko maar dale, uss bete ko haq hi nahi apni maa ki mauth ke baare mein baat karne ka, usko chup karaya jaata tha. Aur ye India mein non-stop ye strategy chalti thi. Aur unke younger generation ko itna brainwash kar diya tha younger generation ko toh unko lagta tha ki truth isliye nahi bolna chahiye kyuki isme Islam involved hai.”

Adding that he is not against Islam, he mentions that his half of the family is filled with Muslims. He even mentions how the Hindu actors played Muslim characters and vice versa. Vivek reveals that a part of the climax scene is been written by a Kashmiri Pandit. Further, he states that he has given them the business and have worked with the Muslims, hence, doesn’t want to know the level of morality from the people.

“Compassion and empathy ki baat karna do alag cheez hoti hai par jab koi toota hua dil rota hai toh chup chap uska rona without any judgement sunna, wo asli empathy hoti hai. Jo theatres mein bol rahe hai wo unke saal ka dard hai, mere side se koi sikayat nahi hai, I’m with them, duniya ko sochna hai mere baare mein soche. Main toote huye dilon ka dard sunna chahta hoon. Jinko sunne ki himmat nahi hai, wo apne aap ko secular bole, unko Islamophobic bole, jisko jo bolna hai bole,” The Kashmir Files director concluded.

Watch the full interview here:

Also read: The Kashmir Files box office: Anupam Kher starrer enters 200 crore club, beats Sooryavanshi lifetime biz