Hours after raising concerns over the safety risks posed by Diwali fireworks in Mumbai, filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri deleted his earlier social media post, saying he did not want to trigger public outrage or fuel the ongoing cultural and environmental debate over firecrackers.
In a fresh post on X, Agnihotri said he was withdrawing his earlier remarks and wished everyone a happy Diwali.
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"I am deleting my previous tweet. Neither do I want to be the reason for anyone's outrage nor do I want to enable or weaken anyone's cultural or environmental narrative," he wrote. "Happy Diwali to everyone, once again," he added.
I am deleting my previous tweet. Neither do I want to be the reason for anyone's outrage nor do I want to enable or weaken anyone's cultural or environmental narrative. Happy Diwali to everyone, once again. ???????? ????
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) November 9, 2026
Earlier, Agnihotri had raised concerns over the dangers of indiscriminate firecracker use after an errant rocket struck a sofa on his balcony and set it ablaze on Sunday night.
In a post addressed to Mumbai's Mayor on Monday, the filmmaker said his family escaped unharmed after their dogs alerted them in time.
He credited the sofa's fire-resistant fabric with preventing the flames from spreading and potentially causing a major accident.
The incident, he said, had reinforced his concerns about rockets landing on residential balconies and putting lives and property at risk.
Acknowledging the cultural significance of Diwali, Agnihotri had argued that fireworks endangering others could not be justified in the name of tradition.
"Errant rockets are not a cultural pride, they are a fire hazard," he had said, stressing that cultural celebrations should not come at the cost of public safety.
Let's celebrate a safe and joyful Diwali! 🪔⚠️ As Mumbai's First Citizen, I urge everyone to prioritize safety- follow High Court guidelines while bursting firecrackers, avoid public streets, and cooperate with authorities. A little caution from you can keep everyone safe! 🙏 📞 Emergency Contacts: ▪️ Mumbai Fire Brigade: 101 ▪️ Municipal Helpline: 1916 Stay safe, stay joyful! ✨ #SafeDiwali #Diwali2026 #PublicSafety #StaySafe #MumbaiMayor #RituTawde #mumbaichiprathamsevika @Dev_Fadnavis @mybmc
— Ritu Tawde (@TawdeRitu) November 9, 2026
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He had also questioned the effectiveness of civic advisories urging residents to celebrate responsibly, calling for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations and an investigation into fire incidents reported across Mumbai during the festive period.
The filmmaker had sought accountability from both those violating safety norms and officials responsible for enforcing them.
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