The Delhi Files: Vivek Agnihotri Shares BTS Photos from India-Bangladesh Border Research, Says 'Hindu Culture Motifs Slowly Disappearing'

Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is known for his commitment to thoroughly researching every subject he tackles, and his upcoming film The Delhi Files is no exception. Currently in the research phase, Agnihotri is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to bring the realities of his film’s subject to the big screen. Recently, he took to social media to share exclusive behind-the-scenes (BTS) images from his visit to the India-Bangladesh border, giving fans a glimpse into the immersive groundwork he’s conducting for the film.

Agnihotri’s visit to the border is part of a larger research effort to gather authentic insights, particularly from those living on the Indian side of the India-Bangladesh border. In a detailed post, he shared his observations about the region, shedding light on the socio-political dynamics at play. He wrote, “Six months ago, we were interviewing people on the Indian side of the Indian-Bangladesh Border for the research of my next film #TheDelhiFiles. I found these villagers were more aware of Bangladesh politics than Indian. They knew that a revolt was going to take place against Haseena. And they were all supportive for it. On this border it’s almost impossible to determine who is Indian and who isn’t. All the motifs of Hindu culture are slowly diminishing. Looks like there still exist ‘Two Indias’ within India. That’s what ‘forced demography change’ does to a region: Two nations. Two constitutions. West Bengal is very vulnerable and the current government exploits ‘demography change’ to their advantage by making vote banks out of them. One reason why she was so against CAA & NRC. Political violence has become the main money making industry of Bengal.”

The post sparked significant engagement, with many applauding Agnihotri’s dedication to portraying complex historical and social realities in his films.

Agnihotri’s research journey for The Delhi Files began back in 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown. Since then, he has traversed the length and breadth of India, from Kerala to Kolkata to Delhi, gathering comprehensive information for his film. His research has involved reading over 100 books, 200 articles, and poring over 7,000 research pages and more than 1,000 archival documents. In addition to literature, Agnihotri and his team have visited more than 20 states across India, interviewing locals and documenting the shifting socio-political landscape that will be central to his film.

The Delhi Files follows the success of The Kashmir Files, which earned widespread acclaim for its hard-hitting portrayal of historical events. Agnihotri is once again partnering with prolific producer Abhishek Agarwal, under the banner of Abhishek Agarwal Arts, for his upcoming project.