Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s upcoming film The Bengal Files is once again in the headlines. The trailer of the film was released recently, leading to heated reactions and protests in Kolkata. With the film already drawing political attention, speculations arose about its timing, given that Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled for April 2026.
Why Release The Bengal Files Now?
In a recent interview with ANI, director Vivek Agnihotri dismissed the claims linking the movie’s release to elections. When asked why he chose to release the film in 2025 instead of closer to the polls, Agnihotri replied bluntly:
“In India, whenever a film is released, there’s always some election going on. People who say this are foolish. Bengal elections are in April 2026. Am I that stupid to release the film now? If I wanted to release it during elections, I would have chosen January or February 2026 when the political atmosphere is heated.”
Agnihotri also questioned critics, asking which election is currently happening in Bengal. “There’s only the Bihar election right now. Why would I release it before that? The focus is entirely on Bihar,” he added.
#WATCH | On his film 'The Bengal Files', film director Vivek Agnihotri says, "Whenever a film is released in our country, there is always one or the other election. Bengal elections are in April 2026. Am I that stupid to release the film now? Had I wanted to release it with the… pic.twitter.com/4ipk7Dxlaa
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2025
Release Date of The Bengal Files
Despite the controversies, Agnihotri confirmed that The Bengal Files will release on September 5, 2025. Audiences have been eagerly awaiting the film, and its box-office performance will be closely watched. The director emphasized that elections are a constant in India, but cinema should not always be seen through a political lens.
