Vivek Agnihotri reacts as Sudhir Mishra says those criticising TKF don’t go to theaters

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri took to his Twitter account and responded to Sudhir Mishra’s post where he questioned why ‘liberals’ complain about The Kashmir Files while they themselves don’t support other films. Vivek’s reaction came after his film didn’t win at the Filmfare Award in any category despite seven nods. Sudhir Mishra is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming Afwaah on May 5. Also read: Anupam Kher pens cryptic note about ‘saste log’ after The Kashmir Files doesn’t win any Filmfare Award

In a new tweet, Sudhir Mishra wrote, “Liberals complain about Kashmir Files. Why? Vivek Agnihotri made a film and his audience came to theatres and saw it. But when we make films our audience who criticise Vivek sit on their arse and don’t come to the theatre. Sorry, I had to say it. #afwaah.”

While many agreed and disagreed with Sudhir’s opinion, The Kashmir Files director took a jibe at him. He responded and wrote, “Who is a liberal? Those who make films against terrorism or the ones who defend/ support terrorism through their art? Or ones who keep quiet? I think there should be an open debate on this but I don’t know if any liberal is ready for it. If you like I can do a podcast with you.”

Written and directed by Vivek, The Kashmir Files depicts the alleged exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir. It stars Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty and Darshan Kumaar in the key roles. Recently, the film was nominated in several categories of Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Editing.

However, Vivek refused to acknowledge the Filmfare nominations. In a long tweet, he said, “According to Filmfare, other than the stars, nobody has a face. Nobody matters. That’s why, in the sycophant and unethical world of Filmfare, master directors like Sanjay Bhansali or Sooraj Barjatya have no faces. Sanjay Bhansali looks like Alia Bhatt, Sooraj like Mr Bachchan and Anees Bazmi like Kartik Aaryan. It’s not that a filmmaker’s dignity comes from Filmfare Awards but this humiliating system must end. Therefore, as my protest and dissent against a corrupt, unethical and sycophant establishment of Bollywood, I have decided to not accept such awards.”