'If I need that Pakistani actor, I’ll convince audiences': Vivek Agnihotri on ban debate

The debate around Pakistani actors in Indian films resurfaced after Sardaar Ji 3 and Aabeer Gulaal shifted to international-only releases. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri addressed the controversy during an appearance on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra, where he spoke about freedom of expression, creative choices, and his personal approach to collaboration.

Following the ban enforced by the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA), Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaar Ji 3, featuring Pakistani actor Hania Aamir, skipped Indian theatres and opted for a global release. Similarly, Aabeer Gulaal, starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, also moved towards an international route.

Vivek Agnihotri, while preparing for his upcoming film The Bengal Files, expressed his belief in free speech and artistic freedom. “Main toh free speech pe believe karta hun. Aur main yeh maanta hun ki artists have no boundaries,” he said. To illustrate his point, he likened creativity to a painter’s palette, where colours cannot be banned on the basis of origin.

When asked about whether he would ever cast a Pakistani actor, Agnihotri responded candidly: “Agar mujhe kabhi zarurat padhi ki mujhe aisa laga iss film ke liye mujhe yahi Pakistani actor chahiye, what I will do I can tell you. I will then convince my audience, I'll tell them the reason why it is required, kyun chahiye.”

He also recalled working with colleagues whose ideologies or backgrounds differed from his own, including actors like Naseeruddin Shah in The Tashkent Files and members from the Trinamool Congress. According to him, professional collaboration should not be dictated solely by political or religious identity.

Sharing an anecdote from his set, Agnihotri recounted how his first assistant director, a devout Muslim, sought his mother’s approval before joining the project. Eventually, she offered blessings, convinced that the film was aimed at unity rather than division. “This film asks very fundamental questions,” Agnihotri said, adding that many critics attack his work without watching it.

Despite the polarising debates, Agnihotri appeared resolute: “Theek hai, we’ll fight.” His upcoming political drama The Bengal Files, starring Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and others, is set for a theatrical release on September 5.