Vivek Agnihotri is known for having strong opinions on various subjects and does not hesitate to put it in front of the world. The filmmaker is currently gearing up for 'The Vaccine War' and is busy with the promotional tours and media interactions for his The Kashmir Files: Unreported series. In yet another such instance Vivek Agnihotri, in a podcast, has criticised religious leaders for 'commercialisation of religion' without taking any names.

 

 

In a recent interview with Jist News, the filmmaker slammed 'modern dharm gurus (religious or spiritual leaders)' and questioned what was the need for these leaders to make videos with celebrities, such as Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut and Karisma Kapoor.

The filmmaker said why these gurus need to make videos with celebrities or pose for pictures with them. Vivek said, "10-50 bodyguards chal rahe hai Buddha ke sath, aur unke aage-peeche log khade huye hain, koi unke joote ke feeteh bandh raha hai, ko unko mala pehna raha hai. Maine apni aankhon se dekha hai main iss liye bol raha hoon. Main koi suni-sunai dharnayo ki baat nahi kar raha hoon. Aur Gautam Buddha ke kamre hai jo aap ₹20,000 mein khareed rahe hain. Phir Gautam Buddha ja ke kabhi Akshay Kumar ke sath, kabhi Kangana Ranaut ke saath, kabhi Karisma Kapoor ke sath video bana rahe hain, ya photo kheech rahe hain. Kabhi aap yeh kalpana kar sakte hain? Yeh kaunsa dharma hai (Can you imagine Lord Buddha with 10-50 bodyguards, being surrounded by people, who tie his shoelaces, put garlands around his neck, or having rooms priced at Rs 20,000 at his ashram? Can you imagine him making videos and taking photos with celebs, sometimes with Akshay Kumar, other times with Kangana Ranaut, Karisma Kapoor? What kind of a religious activity is this)?"

 

Further, the Kashmir Files director has criticized their luxurious ashrams saying that how the so-called 'modern dharma gurus' have the most luxurious ashrams (places to find spiritual peace and tranquility).

 

He said, “Aapne jo yeh modern dharm guru wagera falane, inke ashram dekhe hai apne? 5-star, 7-8-10-star resorts sharm kha jayenge inke saamne. Yeh private chartered planes mein ghoomte hain. Aap kalpana kariye ki Buddha private chartered planes mein ghoom rahe hain (Have you seen the ashrams of these so-called modern gurus? They are more luxurious than 5-star or even 7-star hotels. These gurus use private chartered planes, can you even imagine Lord Buddha doing anything similar?”