'The Kashmir Files' star and co-producer Pallavi Joshi releases a statement bashing Nadav Lapid

Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who is the IFFI jury this year slammed 'The Kashmir Files', calling it a propaganda film. Speaking at the 53rd International Film Festival of India on Monday night, Nadav expressed his dismay at the festival's decision to screen a propaganda movie like The Kashmir Files. The speech's video quickly gained popularity on social media. Now the film's actor star and co-producer Pallavi Joshi responded to Nadav in a lengthy statement. 

She took to her social media and shared a press release that read, 

"For decades the international community remained silent on the sufferings of the Kashmiri Pandit Community. After 3 decades, the Indian film industry finally realized that it needs to tell India's story truthfully and objectively. Vivek and I were always aware that there are elements that would not like to see the stark truth on the screen, but it is very unfortunate that a creative platform was used for a political agenda to preserve an old, false and jaded narrative about Kashmir. We are overwhelmed by the way the people of India rose to defend The Kashmir Files against the rude and vulgar statements of a genocide denier."

She added, "I would like to assure our audience and supporters that 'The Kashmir Files' remains a people's film.  I also want to thank the Israeli Ambassador H.E Naor Gilon and the Consul General Shri Kobbi Shoshani for their support. I Am Buddha stands for India and we will continue the path of truth and resilience to keep making meaningful cinema with original Indian content. Pallavi Joshi Producer, I Am Buddha."

Since Nadav's remarks, numerous performers, directors, and even Israeli diplomats in India, including the ambassador and consul general, have expressed support for the movie.

Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, and Darshan Kumaar were among the other notable actors who starred in The Kashmir Files. The movie, which was produced on a little budget, became an unexpected hit at the box office and briefly held the record for the highest-grossing Hindi movie of 2022.