Mumbai: The Bengal Files director Vivek Agnihotri has heaped praise on veteran actor Anupam Kher for portraying Mahatma Gandhi in the upcoming film.
Agnihotri shared a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram, revealing Kher in Gandhi’s look from the sets. Calling him “not just the finest in Indian cinema, but a true luminary of world cinema,” the director lauded the actor’s dedication.
“In The Bengal Files, Kher Saab plays Gandhi — a role that demands depth, truth, and absolute honesty. With wisdom, warmth, and unmatched discipline, he defines what it means to be a cinematic icon,” Agnihotri wrote in the caption, highlighting Kher’s National Award and Padma honors.
Earlier this month, the film’s trailer was unveiled in Kolkata amid controversy. It opens with a monologue on Bengal’s condition before Partition and features Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumaar. The trailer depicts scenes of brutal killings during Hindu-Muslim riots in Calcutta, while one scene describes Bengal as the “lighthouse” of India for its resistance to Partition.
Set in the 1940s, The Bengal Files delves into communal violence in undivided Bengal, focusing on events such as the 1946 Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots, described as a Hindu genocide.
The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on September 5, 2025.
