Why is Vivek Agnihotri calling out Kapil Sharma, his show?
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has once again caused a stir ahead of the release of The Kashmir Files. In a couple of tweets, the National Award-winning director has alleged that popular comedian Kapil Sharma had "refused" to call the cast members of his upcoming film on The Kapil Sharma Show (TKSS) as "there is no big star" in it. Thereafter, netizens raised #BoycottKapilSharmaShow calls online.
To take you to the root of the incident, on Monday, a Twitter user had urged Agnihotri to promote The Kashmir Files on TKSS, also requesting Sharma to invite the film's cast. Quoting the tweet, the filmmaker wrote, "I don't get to decide who should be invited on @KapilSharmaK9 show. It's his and his producers' choice whom he wants to invite."
Other users had made similar requests before, and replying to them, Agnihotri made some bombastic comments. "Even I am a fan [of TKSS]. But it's a fact that they refused to call us on their show because there is no big star," he tweeted. He added, "In Bollywood non-starter Directors, writers and Good actors are considered as NOBODIES (sic)."
Even I am a fan. But it’s a fact that they refused to call us on their show because there is no big star. In Bollywood non-starter Directors, writers and Good actors are considered as NOBODIES. https://t.co/l4IPSJ8nX4
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) March 4, 2022
Since Tuesday morning, hashtags like #KapilSharmaShow and #BoycottKapilSharmaShow have been trending on Twitter. One user shared Agnihotri's statement as to how Sharma didn't invite The Kashmir Files team on his show and wrote: "Today I realized that #KapilSharmaShow is also [an] anti-national show...I request to everyone please don't see this show (sic)." Others alleged Sharma's action stemmed from his "closeness with Khans of industry."
Before this, the The Tashkent Files helmer had questioned the ethics of movie critic Anupama Chopra. Agnihotri posted an expose video on Chopra, alleging her entertainment portal Film Companion was biased as it had not covered any news on The Kashmir Files, even though its trailer brought in a lot of traffic. He also questioned the integrity of Chopra's husband, filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
Ahead of the film's release on March 11, makers organized a special screening for The Kashmir Files on Sunday. Agnihotri shared a video of a standing ovation from the audience, too. Focused on Kashmiri Pandits, the film stars Mithun Chakraborty and Anupam Kher, among others.
