The first schedule of Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s film ‘The Kashmir Files’ started during the week in Mussoorie. Earlier the film was planned to be shot in the month of March before lockdown. Yograj Singh has been a part of this film since then. Now, according to the latest reports, he has been removed from the film.
Yograj Singh, the father of former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh has often created controversies with objectionable comments over Indian cricket, especially in reference to former skipper MS Dhoni. Time and again, Yograj has found a way to make headlines for the wrong reasons. This time, he has done so on one of the most sensitive platforms by making a “highly blasphemous, inflammatory, and derogatory” speech at the ongoing protests over the new farm laws.
Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri says, “I had cast Mr. Yograj Singh for my film ‘The Kashmir Files’ for a very prominent role and I had long chats with him. I knew that he has a history of making controversial statements but I ignored that as I generally do not mix art and artist. I keep an artist’s politics away. When I got to know about his speech, I was shocked. I cannot tolerate someone talking about women like that. It’s just not about Hindu women or Muslim Women but he spoke so badly about women in general. On top of that, he tried to create such a hateful and divisive narrative. My film is about the genocide of minorities in Kashmir. I cannot cast somebody who is trying to divide society and especially on the basis of religion. I have sent him a termination letter. He is not a part of my film anymore.”
Vivek further adds, “I make films which expose the truth and I don’t want this person to become part of this truth. Whatever he said it was hateful and this kind of people just want to create violence.”
On the work front, the director turned creative guru for India’s first School of Creativity. He also finished shooting for another film titled ‘The Last Show’ a while back.
