Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri Supports Pallavi Joshi After She Is Introduced As ‘His Wife’, Calls Out ‘Deeply Misogynistic’ Mindset: “She Did Not Borrow Her Identity From Anyone”
Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri hits back at a news report defining four-time National Award winner Pallavi Joshi primarily through her marriage following her CBFC appointment.
Recently, Agnihotri came out in support of acclaimed actor-producer Pallavi Joshi after an outlet introduced her as the “wife of filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri” in a report following her appointment to the Central Board of Film Certification. While Pallavi Joshi is indeed Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s wife, the filmmaker questioned why her independent professional identity was not given equal prominence.
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, known as one of the fearless filmmakers of Indian cinema, has never shied away from bringing challenging and unconventional subjects to the big screen. Off screen too, the filmmaker is known for being vocal about different issues and putting forward his views.
Calling the headline “third-rate,” “malicious,” and an example of “misogynistic” journalism, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri highlighted Joshi’s independent achievements and decades-long career. He pointed out that she is a four-time National Award-winning actor who began acting at the age of four and went on to become one of India’s recognized television stars. He also highlighted her work as a producer and creator, including producing Aarohan, a project centered on women in the Indian Navy.
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri stressed that Joshi has built her identity through four decades of acting, television, cinema, and producing. He further criticized the patriarchal lens of defining an accomplished woman primarily through her relationship with her husband, arguing that her professional achievements deserved to be acknowledged on their own terms.
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri tweeted, “Dear @scroll_in @tajmahalfoxtrot and @sharmasupriya, what kind of third-rate, malicious and deeply misogynistic journalism is this? Pallavi Joshi is a four National Award-winning actor. She started acting at the age of four. She had already become one of India’s most recognised television stars at a time when many of the journalists writing this story weren’t even born. I didn’t even know the P of production when Pallavi produced Arohan, a landmark work centred on women in the Indian Navy. She has produced and created more meaningful work than your collective reports ever will. And yet, when you write about an accomplished, self-made woman, you choose to introduce her primarily as “the wife of filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri.”
https://x.com/vivekagnihotri/status/2100466572863398039?s=46&t=NldEpY3n6_Z8Fa525-IrVw
Known for speaking his mind and calling out what he believes is unfair, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri once again used his platform to stand up for Pallavi Joshi and highlight her achievements beyond her identity as his wife. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s strong response underlines his support for her while questioning the way accomplished women are often defined through their husbands.
By Keerti Kadam