Vivek Agnithori Feels His Film Tashkent Files Should Have Been India's Official Entry To Oscars Instead Of Gully Boy

On former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's birth anniversary, Tashkent Files director Vivek Agnihotri has spoken about his critically acclaimed film and even gone as far to say that it should have been India’s official entry to Oscars instead of Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy.

Tashkent Files based on the mysterious death of Lal Bahadur Shashtri was a surprise winner at the box office and speaking of the film before its TV premiere the filmmaker said, “Watching this movie will also give facts that haven’t been clear to the new gen. Shashtriji’s life is what the youth should watch. They will know what of India he wanted."

Speaking about the Oscar entry Vivek felt that Tashkent Files was left out due to politics and felt that it should have been India’s official entry instead of Gully Boy. "It truly deserves to be one of the top runners but due to politics, it couldn’t make it." 

Talking about the subject of Tashkent Files Vivek said, "I wanted a subject that was not touched by anyone. Moreover, it was a topic no one had explored because of the controversy surrounding his death. When a country’s government is involved in something, no filmmaker tries to make a film on it. It took me four years to make this movie, we filed a RTI, and also went through all the CIA, KGB and parliamentarian records. I wanted to make an honest film."

Tashkent Files earned Rs.16.75 crores at the box office and enjoyed a run of over 80 days in theatres.