The West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 results sparked strong reactions from filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and producer Abhishek Agarwal, who linked the political change in the state to the controversy around their film The Bengal Files.
Both spoke about the difficulties they allegedly faced while making and promoting the film in Bengal under the TMC government led by Mamata Banerjee.
Abhishek Agarwal Says ‘People Have Done Justice'
Speaking after the election results, Agarwal claimed that his team was not allowed to shoot The Bengal Files in Bengal and later struggled to release the film there. He said the election outcome felt personal to him because of the problems he faced during the film's production and release.
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The producer accused the TMC government of encouraging “Hindu-Muslim politics” and said the film was never intended to create communal division. According to him, the movie focused on Bengal's history and important events from the past. Agarwal also said he had wanted Mamata Banerjee to watch the film before judging it.
He further claimed that several legal cases were filed against him and his team, which made it difficult for him to even visit Bengal. Now, with a new government coming to power, he said he hopes The Bengal Files will finally get a proper release in the state.
Vivek Agnihotri Recalls ‘Ban' On The Film
Director Vivek Agnihotri also shared a long message on social media after the results were announced. In his post, he alleged that after the release of The Kashmir Files, he was “cancelled” in Bengal and faced restrictions while promoting his films in the state.
The filmmaker claimed that The Bengal Files was completely blocked in West Bengal last year. He also alleged that the film's trailer launch faced disruptions, his team was attacked, and multiple FIRs were filed against him.
Despite this, Agnihotri said his team continued showing the film privately across Bengal during the election period so that more people could watch it. Congratulating the voters, he wrote that people in Bengal could now “walk without fear.”
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About The Bengal Files
Released in September 2025, The Bengal Files starred Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi and Darshan Kumaar in key roles. The film explored events linked to Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots, and became a topic of major political debate after its release.
2026 Election Results
The reactions from the filmmakers came after the BJP registered a massive win in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, crossing the 200-seat mark in the 294-member Assembly and ending the long rule of the Trinamool Congress. Mamata Banerjee also lost the Bhabanipur seat to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
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