Anupam Kher pens cryptic note about ‘saste log’ after The Kashmir Files doesn’t win any Filmfare Award

Anupam Kher has shared a cryptic tweet after his film The Kashmir Files was snubbed at the Filmfare Awards held in Mumbai on Thursday. The film was nominated in multiple categories including Anupam being nominated for Best Actor In A Leading Role (Male), which was eventually won by Rajkummar Rao for Badhaai Do. The film seems to have been snubbed at the awards ceremony due to director Vivek Agnihotri’s refusal to accept the awards. He had written a long note ahead of the event, calling Filmfare “unethical and anti-cinema awards”. Also read: Filmfare Awards complete list of winners: Gangubai Kathiawadi, Badhaai Do dominate

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Anupam shared a quote that read: “Izzat ek mehenga tohfa hai, uski ummeed saste logo se na karein (Respect is a precious prize, don’t expect it from cheap people).” He shared it with the hashtag The Kashmir Files.

Singer Shivang Upadhyay commented on his tweet, “Box-office, logo ke appreciation aur pyar se bada award koi bhi nhi hai (no award is bigger than box office, people’s appreciation and love).” A person tweeted in Hindi, “#TheKashmirFiles has garnered respect from the audience, a few awards cannot be a criteria of respect).” Another wrote, “Agnihotri ne mana kiya tha Kher saab (Vivek Agnihotri had refused to accept the award).”

The Kashmir Files was up for win in 6-7 categories including Best Film, Best Screenplay and Vivek Agnihotri being nominated in the Best Director category. Cast members Mithun Chakraborty and Darshan Kumar were also nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for the film.

The Best Film went to Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He also won the Best Director award at the event. Mithun Chakraborty and Darshan Kumar lost to Anil Kapoor who won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male) award for Jugjugg Jeeyo. The Best Screenplay award went to Akshat Ghildial, Suman Adhikary and Harshavardhan Kulkarni for Badhaai Do.

Vivek had penned a long note ahead of the Filmfare Awards against the star system and written, “Therefore, as my protest and dissent against a corrupt, unethical and sycophant establishment of Bollywood, I have decided to not accept such awards. I refuse to be part of any oppressive and corrupt system or awards which treats writers, directors and other HODs & crew members of a film inferior to and/or as slaves to stars.”