Hyderabad: Sudhir Mishra and Vivek Agnihotri had a hearty conversation on the most controversial topics, snippets of which were shared by the latter on his Instagram handle. The two discussed Anurag Kashyap's statement that Vivek's film (The Kashmir Files) should not be nominated for an Oscar. In another frame, we see Sudhir Mishra telling the filmmaker that he needs to 'look at' what his critics are saying, while 'The Kashmir Files' director pondered why he is 'othered' in Bollywood.
Vivek Agnihotri teased his next podcast with Sudhir Mishra in a brief video, and they were seen discussing Anurag's comment. The preview began with Vivek saying, "Mujhe laga inko ye likhna pad raha hai ki Vivek ki audience alag hai, meri audience alag hai?" (I felt, now he had to write that his audience is different from Vivek's)?" Sudhir soon suggests that Vivek "look at" what your critics are saying. "What do your critics have to say about you?" People are misusing your film," Sudhir added.
Sudhir then stated, "It is Anurag's opinion that your film should not be nominated for an Oscar." To which, Vivek responded: "Then why do you have a problem with my views? You have no objections to anyone's point of view except mine?" "No, no," Sudhir replied. "I have no objections to your viewpoints also," the 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi' director clarified.
Vivek captioned the teaser, "Unedited. Uninterrupted. Tonight at 7 p.m., I'll have a free-flowing talk with @iamsudhirmishra. Only on YouTube's 'I Am Buddha' channel." Vivek also challenged Sudhir in the short clip he published online, "If I have questioned a few practices of Bollywood, why should I be othered?"
'The Kashmir Files' was released in theatres last year to mixed reviews from critics. The film soared in popularity through word-of-mouth and became one of the top-grossing Hindi films of 2022. The film, written and directed by Vivek, is based on the killings of Kashmiri Hindus in the 1990s. Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty and Darshan Kumar had key roles in the film.
For the unversed, Anurag Kashyap in an interview last year, said, "India might have a nomination in the final five if RRR is the film they choose. I'm not sure what movie anyone will choose. I hope it's not The Kashmir Files." In response to the comment, Vivek tweeted that "Bollywood's genocide-denier lobby" has started a campaign against his film. It is with reference to this infamous comment that the two filmmakers-- Vivek Agnihotri and Sudhir Mishra-- will be seen discussing movies and polarised views of film directors.
