The veteran actor also downplays Anurag Kashyap’s call for ignoring The Kashmir Files [2022] as India’s representation to Oscars.

By Mayur Lookhar

It is a tough time for Bollywood. The poor box office apart, Hindi cinema has been regularly trolled over nepotism, favoritism. Bollywood bashing is the favourite timepass on social media. And the division within the industry lay exposed when artistes take pot shots at each other.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had riled fellow filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri when he cheekily stated that the Film Federation of India jury should pick any film but Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files [2022] as India’s representation to the Oscars. That drew a sharp response from Agnihotri, who accused Kashyap of being part of a Bollywood brigade that works like a mafia to sabotage his film.

Now, The Kashmir Files [2022] actor Anupam Kher has commented on Kashyap’s cheeky barb. Kher was joined by lead actor Nikhil Siddhartha, and his Karthikeya 2 [2022] director Chandoo Mondeti for a success press conference. During this group interaction, Kher was asked about Kashyap’s critical comment.

“I respect Anurag Kashyap as a filmmaker. He is a good director, but we don’t need any certificate from him. He is not the one to dole out such certificates. The people have appreciated us and that is what counts,’ Kher told journalists.

The veteran actor was asked about The Kashmir Files’ chances at winning National Award and other accolades

“If any award function doesn’t award The Kashmir Files, then that will be a fraud. How can you not give the best film, the best director, best actor award to The Kashmir Files,” said a pompous Kher before humbly adding, “Look, I don’t say this with any arrogance, but I’m speaking practically.  How can you give awards to any other film than The Kashmir Files?”

The film was based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in 1990 due to Pakistan backed terrorism. The film went on to make over Rs250 crore nett at the domestic box office. However, the left liberals labelled it a right wing propaganda and there were murmurs of bulk buying of movie tickets by vested interests.