‘Karan Johar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra also have agendas; stars releasing their films on Eid have an agenda’: Vivek 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?”

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 by 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 minister. 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.

Also Read — Anurag Kashyap was a drunkard who palmed off work to Vikram Motwane’: Vivek Agnihotri says it became difficult to deal with filmmaker

“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.