Puneet Issar replaces Yograj Singh in film post Singh's recent speech

Puneet Issar with Vivek Agnihotri. Picture/PR

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has sacked actor Yograj Singh from The Kashmir Files over a controversial speech made by him on the farmers' protests. Singh has been replaced by Puneet Issar in the important role. The actor stepped aboard overnight.

According to sources, "A day before the shooting of the film, director Vivek Agnihotri received actor Yograj Singh's video of the blasphemous speech and Agnihotri was shocked. He couldn't tolerate someone slamming women and to make it worse, Singh tried to create a hateful decisive narrative. At that moment he decided Yograj cannot be part of The Kashmir Files. He had sent Yograj an official termination letter due to which the director suffered a big financial loss. To avoid losing time, Agnihotri made a last minute call to Puneet Issar and asked him to step aboard."

"His recent speech was misogynistic. It wasn't about the religion of the women; his narrative was hateful and divisive. My film is about the Hindu genocide in Kashmir. It doesn't make sense for me to have someone in the film who propagates the idea of dividing society on the basis of religion," director Vivek Agnihotri said.

Also read: Vivek Agnihotri On Replacing Yograj Singh In Kashmir Files: Can't Have Someone Who Propagates Religious Divide

About joining the team of The Kashmir Files, veteran actor Puneet Issar said, "I am very glad that I got this golden opportunity to work with Vivek Agnihotri in his movie. I admire all his films because his films contain a strong purpose and also expose the truth in front of people. I really admired his film Tashkent Files, which was beyond words. His movie, The Kashmir Files, will be more powerful than previous movies. I feel very blessed that I got an opportunity to play a nationalist, a DGP's character in the movie. I would like to thank Agnihotri for giving me a chance to prove myself."

Following the critical acclaim of Agnihotri's Tashkent Files in April 2019, the filmmaker believes The Kashmir Files is a small step towards letting the world, especially his countrymen, know about the plight of Kashmiri Hindus. Featuring Anupam Kher in a pivotal role, The Kashmir Files is slated to release in 2021.

Also read: Puneet Issar: I Lost 7 To 8 Films After Accidentally Injuring Amitabh Bachchan

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