The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri deactivates Twitter after threats to his family

Ahead of the release of the film, The Kashmir Files, director Vivek Agnihotri said that he and his family have been receiving threats. As a result, he had to deactivate his Twitter account.

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri is going through a hard time right now. Ahead of the release of his film, The Kashmir Files, he had to face all kinds of threat to himself and his family. As a result, Vivek deactivated his Twitter account for a few days because of all the negativity. In a recent interview, the director opened up about the mental stress caused to him by such threats. Helmed by Vivek Agnihotri, The Kashmir Files is based on the lives of Kashmiri Pandits and is inspired by true events. It stars Anupam Kher and Mithun Chakraborty in the lead roles.

The Kashmir File releases on March 11, 2022, in theatres. The film, which was earlier scheduled to release on January 26, 2022, in theatres, was pushed due to the rising Covid-19 cases. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Vivek Agnihotri said, “It got ugly. It created mental stress for me, so I thought let me get off for few days, I just wanted to focus on the film. All this creates anxiety. If I am called all that, it’s okay, but if it comes down to my children and family. This was the best step.”

“These people who threaten, they know your children through Instagram as well,” confesses Agnihotri, “I have quite seasoned at social media, I have been here for a long time, I can handle any kind of opposition and abuses also. But when Twitter is used as a weapon by organised political or religious groups, then it becomes difficult. I am sure 60-70 percent are bots, hence maybe deactivating it will them less active after a couple of days.”

Vivek Agnihotri had earlier posted a long letter on his Instagram account mentioning why he deactivated his Twitter account. He wrote, "A lot of people are wondering if my Twitter account is suspended. No, it`s not. I have deactivated it. Here is why: Since I started the campaign of #TheKashmirFiles, Twitter shadow banned me. My followers dropped drastically and most of my followers couldn`t see any of my tweets. On top of that, my DM was filled with vulgar and threatening messages (by you know who) (sic)."

He further mentioned that he thinks there can be involvement of some external forces behind these threat messages. "It`s not that I can`t handle such elements, but it seemed there were many Pakistani & Chinese bots. However tough you may be, it`s mentally testing to be surrounded by such intense hate and threats for your family. And all this fatwa, threats, abuses..for what (sic)?"

He added: "For Making an honest film on the pain and sufferings of our Kashmiri brothers & sisters? Are they rattled that the truth may come out? The ugly world of social media has given power to lot of evil elements. And our silence gives them hope to succeed. #TheKashmirFiles breaks that silence. Loud and clear."