

Filmmaker, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri who recently announced his most ambitious project till date- The Kashmir Files gets Anupam Kher onboard as a part of the lead cast. Kashmir Files is the story of the biggest genocide in India’s history- the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits, which has been unreported or under-reported.
On casting Anupam Kher, Vivek shares, “When I started researching, meeting, and listening to Kashmiri Hindu community, I realised that their story of loss and suffering is so painful. If this story has to be told, it must be told by the greatest of actors of our times to bring the realism, conviction, and sensibility that heals the community.
My first choice was Anupam Kher. It’s a coincidence that he happens to be a Kashmiri himself, and I am so proud and happy that when he heard the script in his New York home, he agreed to act in this very important film of our times. I hope that the audience will see a dimension of Mr Kher that we haven’t seen so far.”
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and wife Pallavi Joshi are on a US Tour for a month and a half long schedule that entailed on-camera interviews with victims, survivors and their family members and who have lost everything in the tryst. This shoot also marks the first-ever attempt towards a consolidated report on this macabre incident which is still shrouded in mystery.
Right from Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, Hate Story, Buddha in a Traffic Jam to The Tashkent Files, director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has always made a mark on Bollywood.
He is basking in the glory of a monstrous hit- The Tashkent Files which is dubbed as one of the most profitable films of 2019. The success of this film set the benchmark and came as a great gratifying startled to everyone.
As the film achieve sky-high, The Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) honours director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri with a coveted trophy for delivering an astounding Box Office success.
In a conversation with us Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri shares his feelings for being honoured; behind the scenes of making The Tashkent Files and all that.
Expresso: Recently you have been honoured by The Indian film and television director’s association. How was the feeling of being honoured?
Vivek: Awards are not a new thing for me but when you are honoured by your peers, especially directors, it’s a very special and overwhelming feeling. My heart fills with gratitude whenever I think about it.
Expresso: Talking about the Tashkent files, what made you feel that this film should be made and that it would be accepted by audiences? Do you think Tashkent Files has opened up a genre of serious and research-based cinema?
Vivek: The Tashkent Files was born out of intense disappointment with our democratic system which doesn’t allow its citizens any right to truth. I was very angry with the education system that has stopped teaching students about some great leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri.
So, I decided to make a film that makes both the points. But I was fully aware that if it is not based on facts and hard logic than it will lose its purpose. So we spent close to 4 years researching and ensured that no angle is missed. I am happy that IIM Ahmedabad has included it in their official curriculum as how to use research for a successful film. Also that it ran for more than 00 days is a validation that researchers ch works.
Expresso: How was your experience roping in Naseeruddin Shah? What according to made him nod a yes?
Vivek: He just heard the character and said yes. These days he does very selective roles which challenge him. He found the script very interesting and he said that he wants to be part of it. He is an acting school and I will always cherish some great time I spent learning from him.
Expresso: Your hashtag for The Tashkent Files “#righttotruth” really caught on- it is a powerful tool and gave a sense of movement which is in progress. Do you intend to further this movement?
Vivek: This hashtag was not just a room for the film but for me its a life mission. I want to bring across this fact that for a democracy to be successful, the first fundamental right should be Right to Truth. I am glad that a lot of young people endorsed it. My next film The Kashmir files is a continuation of #RightToTruth
Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri along with his wife, actor & producer The, are currently in the US for the first schedule of their film The Kashmir Files where the two are interviewing the first-hand record of displaced Kashmiri Pandits who are now settled far away from their roots.
Vivek shared a series of beautiful pictures of his wife Pallavi on Instagram where she is seen wearing a ‘Dejhoor’ which is considered in close resemblance to the mangalsutras of the Hindus. These are the elegantly shaped golden ornament, all most the size of an almond, suspended through both the ears either by a golden chain or coloured thread up to chest from the day of the marriage.
He shared the pictures with a caption, “Slowly, we are going through the cultural transition. Pallavi Joshi in Dejhoor – a traditional Kashmiri Mangalsutra. The difference is that women wear it even after the husband is no more.”
The Kashmir Files- dubbed as #KashmirUnreported is a deep dive into the story of the biggest genocide in India’s history- the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits, which has been unreported or under-reported. The couple will be touring across USA, UK, Canada and Germany to dig out real-life stories as a part of their research for The Kashmir Files.
The success of The Tashkent Files set the benchmark and came as a great gratifying startled to everyone. It has been crossing in theatres for over 80 days, presently. As the film achieve sky-high, The Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) honours director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri with a coveted trophy for delivering an astounding Box Office success.
The award was bestowed on Vivek Agnihotri by National Award Winner Madhur Bhandarkar and Sriram Raghvan. Talking about the recent honour, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri stated, “It is always heartening to be recognised and acknowledged by the fraternity. This film has broken all the rules, it has every element that is a big no-no in the film’s rule book. Yet it ran for over 80 days. This means that if you chase your conviction, anything is possible.”
The Tashkent Files has been the talk of the town and records a collection of INR 20 Cr plus with a shoestring making & marketing cost of 4 Cr. It holds the audience in the theatre even with big releases like Kalank, Avengers, Bharat, Student Of The Year 2 and De De Pyar De.
Sharing about his next venture Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri says, “The Kashmir Files is on the pipeline. This film is based on my mass exodus of Kashmiri Pundits and the biggest ethnic cleansing that India has seen.’’