Vivek Agnihotri Says Deepika 'Had No Idea About JNU Politics' Amid Her Controversial Visit
© BCCLBack in 2020 right before the release of her film Chhapaak, Deepika Padukone courted massive controversy when she visited the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) amid the major political protest.
Now, in an interview, The Bengal Files director Vivek Agnihotri has stated that he is sure Deepika Padukone “had no idea” about the politics of JNU.
He told YouTuber Shubhankar Mishra, “I can guarantee that Deepika had no idea about JNU politics when she went there.”
When asked if he thinks Deepika is dumb? The filmmaker replied, “It’s not about being dumb. If she had known, she wouldn’t have come.”
It was then pointed out to Agnihotri that Deepika is still facing backlash five years later, he replied, “You play with fire, you get burned.”
He then stated that Deepika is an intelligent woman and said, “I don’t know her personally, so I don’t know what ideology she aligns with. I do know that she is a very smart and intelligent woman. Had she known that this is a politically sensitive place and that it might impact her career, she would’ve definitely not gone. During film promotions, there are too many voices telling stars what to do and who to speak to. Her PR was mistaken, they thought it was an event. But it wasn’t an event. Bigger fish than her have been fried for getting involved in politics.”
As a result of Deepika’s actions, the film’s box office was impacted, admitted director Meghna Gulzar in an interview.