Vivek Agnihotri, the filmmaker known for his candid expression, has frequently articulated his transformative journey. He dubs his evolved self as "Vivek Agnihotri 2.0," signifying a shift from his previous left-leaning political stance to a more pragmatic outlook on filmmaking over the years and how he feels that it is important to tell real and honest stories. He then went on to say that Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar's cinema has damaged the cultural fabric of India.
In a recent candid conversation with DNA, Agnihotri delved into the evolution of his ideological shift and his resilient indifference to online trolling.
Agnihotri underscores that this transformation has substantially influenced his cinematic approach. Once recognised for creating lighter films like "Chocolate" and "Dhana Dhan Goal," he has now gravitated toward weightier and impactful narratives.
Reflecting on this evolution, Agnihotri reveals, "Experience and age compelled me to change, especially after my extensive travels across India, where I encountered the true essence of the nation. While I had prior exposure, witnessing it as a filmmaker was a revelation. I realized there were numerous untold stories, an egregious shortcoming by our filmmakers."
Critiquing the post-Amitabh Bachchan superstar era, Agnihotri reserves pointed criticism for the cinematic contributions of Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan. He asserts, "After the advent of Amitabh Bachchan as a superstar – not the one from Deewar but one from Shehanshah – the cinema after that never told real stories. Especially Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan’s cinema, that has actually damaged the cultural fabric of India in a very disastrous way. So, I felt it was important to tell real, honest stories," Agnihotri says.
Agnihotri vehemently opposes the notion propagated by figures like Karan Johar, who underestimate the audience's discernment in favor of formulaic cinema. He explicates, "My other contention is mediocrity, the condescending belief that the audience lacks intellectual acumen. This I cannot abide. My films belong to the people; theirs are box office hits. When their film succeeds, it's Shah Rukh Khan's success. In contrast, my triumph belongs to the audience. We stand at two opposing poles – the North and South Poles. As much as I respect him… sometimes our relationship resembles a complex dynamic, akin to 'Shakti' or 'Deewar,' where love coexists with disparity. You decide who is the police officer and who is the smuggler in our narrative (laughs)."