Bollywood actor John Abraham recently made headlines for stating he would not make films that politically sway audiences, citing movies like The Kashmir Files as an example. This comment has sparked a sharp response from director Vivek Agnihotri, who urged Abraham to “stay away from commenting on cinema.”
Agnihotri’s Rebuke and Abraham’s Position
In an interview with NDTV, Vivek Agnihotri criticized John Abraham’s remarks, dismissing them and questioning Abraham’s credibility as a commentator on cinema. Agnihotri stated that Abraham is “not a historian, an intellectual, a thinker, or a writer.” He also pointed out that Abraham has made his own “jingoistic films” like Satyameva Jayate. Agnihotri went on to suggest that Abraham should focus on his strengths, such as driving bikes and bodybuilding, rather than discussing filmmaking.
Abraham, in a separate interview with India Today, clarified his position, stating, “When films are made with the intent to sway people in a hyper-political environment and such films find an audience, that is scary for me.” He asserted that he has never been, nor will he ever be, tempted to create such films. The Kashmir Files, which Abraham referenced, is a film centered on the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus and was a major box-office success, earning ₹341 crore worldwide.
Upcoming Film from Vivek Agnihotri
Meanwhile, Vivek Agnihotri is preparing for the release of his next film, The Bengal Files. The movie is set to explore the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings and the Noakhali riots. Scheduled for release on September 5, the film stars a large ensemble cast, including Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, and Anupam Kher.