Vivek Agnihotri has been embroiled in a controversy over his forthcoming film, The Bengal Files. During a press conference in Delhi, the director was asked if he would make a film on the Gujarat riots too.
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, who has gained attention for movies like The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files, is currently in the spotlight for his upcoming project The Bengal Files. While the film has already stirred debates, another question is today being raised that will Agnihotri ever make a film on the Gujarat riots?
During a press conference held in Delhi after the dramatic trailer launch row in Kolkata, the director faced this question. Agnihotri explained that his purpose as a filmmaker is not to cover every political or historical event, but to focus on stories that align with his vision and research. Responding to the Gujarat riots question, he firmly said, “I am not the Prime Minister of India. I don’t have to address every issue. I have an agenda — and that agenda is to tell stories that matter to me and that reflect deeper truths of our society.”
The director clarified that his “Files” series is not about sensationalism but about forgotten or suppressed chapters of Indian history. He added that every project requires years of study, gathering evidence, and understanding perspectives before it can take shape as a film. “A movie like The Bengal Files has taken years of research. One cannot just wake up and decide to make a film on a sensitive topic,” he said.
The press conference also touched upon the hurdles faced by the makers during the trailer launch in Kolkata, where police and political pressure allegedly forced the screening to be stopped midway. However, despite challenges, he remains committed to releasing the film on September 5, 2025.
The Bengal Files
Produced by Pallavi Joshi and Abhishek Agarwal, The Bengal Files stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Saswata Chatterjee, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumar. The movie dives deep into the communal unrest of 1940s Bengal, particularly the Great Calcutta Killings and the Noakhali riots.
Don’t Miss Out on the new Updates.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today!
Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_Inarticle_300x250|300,250~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_Inarticle_2_300x250|300,250~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_ATF_970x90|970,250~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_ATF_300x250|300,600~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_BTF_1_300x250|300,600~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_BTF_2_300x250|300,600~Bollywoodlife_Web/bollywoodlife_ros_strip|1300,50~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_OOP_1x1|1,1
About the Author
