Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri didn’t hold back in his verbal assault on Bollywood’s leading producers and directors, accusing them of hypocrisy, cowardice, and creative compromise. In a recent interview with Digital Commentary, the director questioned why the same insiders who privately criticise major stars like Ranbir Kapoor never voice their opinions publicly.Vivek Agnihotri slams Bollywood insiders for double standards“Aukaat hi nahi hai inki, himmat hai karne ki, kar ke dikhayein,” Agnihotri said, pulling no punches. His comments come amid the ongoing debate surrounding Animal, the controversial Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial that sparked backlash for its portrayal of toxic masculinity, while largely shielding its lead actor Ranbir Kapoor from criticism.Agnihotri claimed that nearly everyone in the industry has spoken ill about top stars behind closed doors, but not a single person has had the courage to be vocal in public. “Name one director or producer who hasn’t criticised a big star in private. But do they ever say anything in front of the camera? They don’t. So they deserve to suffer. Do phir Rs 150 crore ghatiya kaam ke, sadi hui acting ke,” he remarked, referring to the industry’s tolerance for sub-par performances as long as big names are involved.‘Not against genuine stars, only fake ones’The filmmaker clarified that he has no issue with real stars who’ve earned their status. “My problem is with people who behave like stars without being one,” Agnihotri added, emphasizing that the blind obsession with celebrity has damaged Bollywood’s creative integrity.Agnihotri, who has positioned himself outside the mainstream industry in recent years, maintained that this culture of fear and flattery has only grown stronger, with producers more concerned about pleasing stars than focusing on meaningful content.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga breaks silence tooMeanwhile, Animal director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who has been at the receiving end of criticism since the film’s release, echoed similar sentiments in a separate conversation on Game Changers.“Everybody said Ranbir was brilliant, but the writer-director was criticised. I understood they want to work with Ranbir,” Vanga said, suggesting that the selective backlash had less to do with ethics and more to do with self-preservation. “It’s easy to make a comment about me because I am new for this place,” he added.
