Bollywood's suffering born out of its arrogance: Vivek Agnihotri
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New Delhi: The maker of "The Kashmir Files", Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, went forthright, saying that what Bollywood is suffering today because of its arrogance. "Bollywood is suffering today because you are trying to pass on your own failure to an individual because his films work," he claimed.
Agnihotri reacted after taking offence from Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap's statement that 'The Kashmir Files' must not be chosen over S.S. Rajamouli's blockbuster, 'RRR', as India's official entry for the best foreign feature film award at the Oscars, IANS reported.
Agnihotri said, "Go to any middle-class, urban, semi-urban household and interview them and you will find how people hate the arrogance, glossy lifestyle, and the disconnect of Bollywood with real-life audiences."
People have seen through "all this hypocrisy, arrogance, and this flashy, flamboyant lifestyle, paid organised publicity campaigns ... and now they are not willing to accept it, which is a good thing, which has made Bollywood rethink the ideology they follow", Agnihotri slammed.
He briefed how Bollywood had boycotted his 'Buddha in a Traffic Jam', while critics and most theatres "boycotted" 'The Tashkent Files.
He said: "They are still running a campaign against 'The Kashmir Files' Oscars submission. So, they are experts on this. It is a serious topic, and I take it very seriously. If people are boycotting their films, it is because of the anger of the audience. There is a disconnect between the Indian middle class and the producers and stars because of their arrogance."
He asked, "Why does no one speak or raise their voice against corruption and moral decay in Bollywood or the exploitation? Everyone surrenders to these things and still talks about standing up against powerful people.
People have started saying, "you give us good content, then only we will watch it. You cannot fool us with this Diwali release or that Eid release, or his film or her film. That is the (popular) verdict," IANS quoted him.
On Anurag Kashyap's comments, Agnihotri said, "I will tell you why I have tweeted on Anurag Kashyap's comment. I make my films very passionately, and I can also protect them passionately. We sacrificed a lot to make our films."