After the breakout box-office efficiency of his final movie, The Kashmir Files, that received him the Nargis Dutt award for Best Film on National Integration, Vivek Agnihotri is all set to ship his subsequent, The Vaccine War.
(Also Read: The Vaccine War trailer: It’s Indian scientists vs naysayers in Vivek Agnihotri’s subsequent movie)
In an unique interview, Vivek discusses directing a bio-science movie, why its field workplace success does not concern him, and whether or not he’d work with actors who don’t share the identical enthusiasm for Bharat as he does. Edited excerpts:
The trailer of The Vaccine War claims it is “India’s first bio-science film.” Is it actually India’s first?
Ya, we do not make science movies. I believe… I imagine that our first true science movie was Rocketry. But that was about astronomy. The Vaccine War is about bio-science. If Madhavan had not made Rocketry, I’d’ve referred to as it India’s first science movie. But this can be a 100% real science movie as a result of the complete movie takes place inside a lab. Every single character within the movie is a scientist. And these are names of actual scientists. It’s not like I’ve fictionalised them.
Why do you assume India has not explored this style a lot? There was Aashiq Abu’s 2019 Malayalam medical thriller Virus although.
I’m positive in regional languages, individuals should’ve made some good movies. But the standard Bollywood truly believes viewers is dumb. That’s why they make dumb movies for them. And science isn’t dumb. That’s why India has not made a science movie.
There was a motion of anti-vaxxers through the COVID pandemic. Have you made this movie as a retaliation to their claims in opposition to getting vaccinated?
Yes, this movie is certainly a solution to that. I believe science is an space the place solely consultants ought to intrude. Common individuals shouldn’t. There are so many myths. I used to imagine in so many issues. After making this movie, I realised I used to be flawed.
You mentioned that when you’d be blissful to look at tentpole movies like Jawan first day first present, you additionally urged the viewers to present smaller movies like The Vaccine War an opportunity. How assured are you of the movie’s business prospects?
See, when The Kashmir Files made cash, individuals thought that it is unprecedented. Then got here Pathaan, that surpassed these numbers. Then got here Gadar 2. And now comes Jawan. I really feel essentially the most painful life is of those that chase numbers. Because numbers are supposed to be damaged. For me, if even one woman will get impressed by my movie to change into a virologist, I’ll contemplate my movie profitable. We’ve proven it to five,000 individuals within the US to date. They’ve cried, laughed, felt proud, they got here out and hugged us and thanked us for making this movie. Now, how individuals react to it in India might be a litmus take a look at. I care about reactions of individuals, I do not care about field workplace.
You not too long ago had a public spat with Naseeruddin Shah, whom you have labored with in The Tashkent Files in 2019. Do you are feeling you will not be capable to work with actors who don’t agree with you politically or aren’t as vocal as you?
It does not matter what individuals share on social media or not. Social media is not a barometer to evaluate individuals’s character. I do not care about that. What individuals do in actual life issues rather a lot. I’ve seen loads of stars and filmmakers do rather a lot for the nation. It’s not like they do not. What individuals say generally may be misunderstood. But I do it as a result of anyone has to talk up. When I’m able of affect, and I can affect even 10 younger individuals to imagine in India’s newfound confidence and to take India ahead, that is greater than sufficient.
You mentioned on the trailer launch that the Hindi movie trade made you are feeling that your movie does not even exist. Do you imagine National Awards to each you and your spouse Pallavi Joshi would empower you as unbiased producers?
It does not empower you financially, socially or politically. The solely factor it does is to make you imagine in your work much more. It additionally offers you type of a high quality certification so individuals additionally imagine that sure, your product goes to have high quality. But I have a look at the award extra as a accountability that I’ve to ship higher high quality subsequent time. And I’m making an attempt to try this with my movies.
The Vaccine War is slated to launch in cinemas on September 28.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
