Bollywood’s Evolution: Agnihotri And Khan Clash On Priorities
Mumbai, 18th August 2023: In a recent interview, Vivek Agnihotri raised concerns about Shah Rukh Khan’s impact on the Bollywood industry, expressing his appreciation for SRK’s charisma while disagreeing with his approach to the field. Agnihotri believes that the superstar’s involvement in politics has led to detrimental changes within Bollywood. He asserts that the industry has shifted towards prioritizing PR tactics, hype, glamour, and stardom, neglecting other important aspects.
Agnihotri shared his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan’s charisma, yet voiced his disapproval of Khan’s political stance. He contends that this political involvement has been a catalyst for the decline of Bollywood as a respected institution. Agnihotri feels that the current focus on stardom has overshadowed the essence of genuine filmmaking and storytelling.
He further emphasized the divide between their filmmaking philosophies. Agnihotri considers himself a creator of “people’s films,” while he characterizes Shah Rukh Khan’s work as catering more to the box office. He argues that Khan’s films tend to undermine the intelligence of the audience, which Agnihotri finds intolerable. Despite his appreciation for Khan’s talent, Agnihotri likens their relationship to conflicting roles portrayed in movies like “Shakti” and “Deewar,” where love coexists with opposing beliefs.
Agnihotri addressed the possibility of collaboration, stating that he would be open to working with Shah Rukh Khan if certain conditions were met. He emphasizes that in his projects, the focus would remain on the writer and director rather than elevating Khan’s presence above theirs. He believes that this approach may not align with Khan’s preferences and thus predicts that collaboration under such terms would be unlikely. Agnihotri concluded by highlighting that those attempting to overshadow him in his projects will not find a successful partnership with him.
