Vivek Agnihotri congratulates India’s 2024 Oscar entry 2018; opens up about taking The Vaccine War to Oscars: ‘If I have to go…’

Meanwhile, Vivek Agnihotri recently opened up about whether he would love to take his movie to the Oscars and also congratulated the team behind the Malayalam movie 2018: Everyone is a Hero, which was chosen as India’s official entry for the 2024 Oscars.

Mentioning that our filmmakers don’t think of Oscars or any other awards while making a film, Agnihotri told Mid-Day.com: “For me, what matters the most is the National Award. I am an Indian and believe in the top honour of my country. Our films are set in the Indian milieu and socio-political situation and to be recognised by the President is a matter of honour. It’s not that we make movies for a National Award but the themes of our films are better suited for that.”

Watch The Vaccine War trailer here:

“If I have to go to the Oscar, I will go directly. Congratulations to 2018 for being the official selection for the Oscars. I am happy that the best one has been chosen,” he added.

During a recent chat with Aaj Tak, Vivek Agnihotri shared his experience of casting Nana Patekar in The Vaccine War, explaining that many people warned him against it, citing concerns that Patekar might become overly involved and even attempt to direct the film himself.

“Mujh sab ne bola pagal hogae ho kya? Kaha ja rahi ho? Woh toh marta hai directors ko (Are you mad? Where are you going? He beats his directors). Many big directors have suffered there is no doubt in that. But we made a list of all the actors who didn’t comprise in their acting even when the role is bad and we stopped at Nana Patekar. Everybody told me not to go to him because he is a madman who interferes a lot and he himself will end up directing the film. But I had belief in him,” he added.

In her review of the film, The Indian Express’ Shalini Langer noted: “Vivek Agnihotri’s devotion to his subject – with obviously the government’s full cooperation and access – veers the film often towards the look and feel of a public service broadcast.”