The Tashkent Files: Vivek Agnihotri receives legal notice from a “Top Family” to stop the film’s release

Vivek Agnihotri has been in the limelight for the longest time now. His film The Tashkent Files has courted quite a few controversies and has been struggling for its release since its announcement. The film, which is finally hitting the theatres this Friday (April 12), has now received a legal notice seeking a stay on its release. The notice has been sent by Politician Lal Bahadur Shastri’s grandsons – Vibhakar Shastri and Diwakar Shastri. For the uninitiated, the film is based on the story of how the PM died in 1996.

In a statement, Agnihotri said, “As you are aware that my film The Tashkent Files is releasing on the 12th. Last night we have been served a legal notice seeking to stop the release of the film by the prominent Congress member and also Ex-Secretary of Congress who also happens to be Lal Bahadur Shastri’s grandson and a close aide of the top family.”

“This is despite them seeing the film, appreciating it and expressing their gratitude to me in person on the 7th April in Delhi at PVR. I have come to know from the horse’s mouth that they have been coerced to do this by the top family.  Shastri’s grandsons have been used as scapegoats as the orders are from the top family,” added the director.

He further said, “I fail to understand why would the top Congress leaders do that? Why would Congress want to stop the movie, shut me up. Why am I being constantly bullied, threatened to release the film? Why are they scared of a movie that raises some questions on a citizen’s #RightToTruth? This is the first film in the history of Indian cinema which is dedicated to the journalists of India. This is a rare film where a young journalist comes out the victor in her crusade to #RightToTruth. I expect our journalists to ask the top family and all concerned why do they want to stop the release of the film? What is making them feel so threatened?”

Starring Naseeruddin Shah, Mithun Chakraborty, Shweta Basu Prasad, Pankaj Tripathi, Mandira Bedi and Pallavi Joshi, the film is not only helmed by Vivek Agnihotri but it’s also produced by him. For more such updates and latest Bollywood news, stay tuned to CineBlitz.