‘Karan Johar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra also have agendas; stars releasing their films on Eid have an agenda’: Vivek Agnihotri | Bollywood News

Director Vivek Agnihotri is busy making his trilogy “on truth, on justice, and on life” with The Tashkent Files (2019), The Kashmir Files (2022), and the upcoming Delhi Files: The Bengal Chapter. He agrees that he makes ‘agenda-driven’ films, but unlike other filmmakers like Karan Johar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and the late Yash Chopra, his agenda is that of making socio-political films.
“Does Karan Johar not make agenda-driven films? He says family is the biggest thing, is that not an agenda? Yash Chopra ji made films on ‘love is everything,’ is that not an agenda? I love Karan, he’s a wonderful director and producer, I don’t have any problem with him. But he’s established himself in the world of fashion, everyone in his films is fashionable, that’s his life’s agenda,” said Agnihotri.
In the podcast on the YouTube channel of Digital Commentary, Agnihotri argued that everyone has an agenda. “When Vidhu Vinod Chopra ji made Shikara (2020), then he said, ‘No, everyone should forget what happened to Kashmiri Pandits. They should hug it out and forgive each other.’ That was his agenda. Tell me, who doesn’t have an agenda?”
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He claimed that if a star (read: Salman Khan) releases his films only on Eid (case in point: Sikandar), that’s also an agenda. Agnihotri added that if a star only sings and dances and makes poor films, that’s their agenda. He also quoted the examples of cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli whose agenda is to excel in life and on the field, whereas some other cricketers just want to earn playing in the Indian Premier League, make girlfriends, and get popular on social media.
“It’s not like I just make films like these. I talk about this too. My speeches are like this too. Their agenda reflects in every aspect of the life of a person with integrity,” added Agnihotri. “My parents were freedom fighters. I get how India got its independence. If I’m talking about India’s social conscience, am I not making three films on right to truth, right to justice, and right to life? I’m not making any faltu, bakwas films,” added Agnihotri.
He also steered clear of supporting the agenda of the ruling party through his films. “What’s the relation between The Tashkent Files and the ruling party of today? I’m not pro-BJP, they accuse me of being pro-Narendra Modi. In 2014, people asked me to sign a petition to not make Narendra Modi the prime miner. I said, why would I do it? Why would I stop someone before giving them a fair shot? I don’t even say I won’t watch a particular film. Foolish people do that,” said Agnihotri.
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“Dharmendra and Sunny Deol were in BJP. Why does no one tell them they’re BJP guys? They tell me! I didn’t contest elections. Do you think I wasn’t offered to? Do you think if I want to go into politics, I won’t be able to? But I don’t want to go. I just want to make films on politics. If I enter politics, I’d have to speak the party line,” argued Agnihotri.