'The Bengal Files' controversy: Mithun Chakraborty slams political opposition, urges youth to learn the truth

Actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty has reacted strongly to the controversy surrounding the trailer of Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s upcoming film 'The Bengal Files.' Speaking with ANI, Mithun Chakraborty expressed surprise at the backlash, saying he hadn’t even watched the trailer yet.

“Everything was planned, but it was so surprising to me, without even seeing the trailer, without even seeing anything, they are opposing it for what? To face the truth? So, that is the problem. Nothing else,” he told ANI. He clearly indicated that the opposition seemed premeditated rather than based on the film’s content.

Mithun Chakraborty reacts to 'The Bengal Files' trailer controversy

During a press conference in Delhi on August 18, Mithun Chakraborty commented on the FIRs reportedly filed against the film by members of the ruling party. “In Bengal, FIRs are distributed like kurmura (puffed rice). Agar TMC ka koi chota mota bhi hoga na police station mein jayega FIR karo bolega, kar dega. So, it was like that. So, never mind. If the FIR has been done, he (Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri) will fight it back. No problem,” Mithun remarked, showing his support for the filmmaker and dismissing the controversy as politically motivated.

Mithun Chakraborty confronts the truth

Mithun Chakraborty also criticized those opposing the film, claiming that many are simply afraid of confronting the truth. “Everybody is scared of the truth. That is the thing,” he said, stressing the importance of educating the younger generation about historical events such as the 1946 Direct Action Day, the Noakhali riots, and the Calcutta killings. “It’s 1947, even before my birth, which we don’t know about. The next generation should know about it — what happened during Noakhali… or what about the great Calcutta killings… You don’t want to know the truth?” he added.

'The Bengal Files' set for September 5 release despite trailer roadblocks

'The Bengal Files,' starring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, and Pallavi Joshi, focuses on the communal violence in undivided Bengal during the 1940s, unveiling what Agnihotri calls the “most brutal chapter” of Indian history. The trailer faced roadblocks in Kolkata on August 16, with multiplexes and hotel chains refusing to screen it, reportedly after political pressure. Despite the controversies, the film is scheduled to release in theatres on September 5, 2025, with Mithun voicing strong support for the film’s message and the importance of historical truth.


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