Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, known for his bold and socially relevant films, has sparked a discussion on the representation of Hindu civilization in Bollywood.
In a recent thought-provoking post, Agnihotri emphasized the need for more Hindu voices in Indian cinema that actively contribute to preserving and promoting Hindu heritage.
Taking to Instagram, the filmmaker shared a series of photos, expressing concern over the underrepresentation of Hindu perspectives in mainstream Bollywood. He argued that despite cinema being in India for over 140 years, Hindu history, values, and narratives are often overlooked or misrepresented.
Agnihotri’s Mission: A Parallel Cinema for Hindu Narratives
Through his production company, iambuddha Films, Agnihotri stated his commitment to building a “parallel cinema” that authentically represents Hindu causes.
In his post, he wrote:
"Cinema arrived in India on July 7, 1896. Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatvadekar was the first Indian to experiment with the medium, and in 1913, Dadasaheb Phalke made India’s first feature film. Yet, after 140 years of Bollywood, why do we see so few Hindu voices in Bollywood actively contributing to Hindu civilization? At @iambuddha_films, we are committed to creating a parallel cinema with meaningful representation of Hindu causes. #TheDelhiFilesBengalChapter”
‘The Delhi Files: Bengal Chapter’ Announced for August 15, 2025
Agnihotri also teased his upcoming film, The Delhi Files: Bengal Chapter, which he says will shed light on untold stories of Hindu civilization and its role in shaping modern India.
On October 3, 2024, the director officially announced the project, revealing that The Delhi Files will be released in two parts, with “The Bengal Chapter” as the first installment. The film is slated for release on August 15, 2025.
Sharing the film’s poster, he wrote:
"MARK YOUR CALENDAR: August 15, 2025. After years of research, the story of #TheDelhiFiles is too powerful for one part. We’re excited to bring you The Bengal Chapter – the first of two parts, unveiling a significant chapter in our history.”
Star-Studded Cast and Production Team
The Delhi Files stars Pallavi Joshi (Agnihotri’s wife), who is also co-producing the film. The ensemble cast includes:
- Mithun Chakraborty
- Anupam Kher
- Puneet Issar
- Babbu Maan
- Govind Namdev
- Palomi Ghosh, among others.
Agnihotri’s past films, including The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022), have been known for exploring politically and historically sensitive topics. With The Delhi Files: Bengal Chapter, he aims to continue this trend, bringing forward narratives that he believes are often ignored in Bollywood.
With the film set for a 2025 Independence Day release, it remains to be seen how Agnihotri’s latest venture will contribute to the ongoing discourse about history, identity, and representation in Indian cinema.
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