Filmmaker Kabir Khan, who has helmed Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Ek Tha Tiger, has a lot of respect for the Mughals. And he finds it ‘problematic and disturbing’ when films ‘demonise the Mughals’ as he believes they were the ‘original nation-builders’. Kabir Khan thinks that if the filmmakers are showing them as villains or going with the popular narrative, then they should also explain and make people understand ‘why they have to be villainised’. As per the director, he doesn’t respect those films whose narratives are not based on historical evidence.
Khan told Bollywood Hungama, "I find it hugely problematic and disturbing because what really makes me upset is that it's being done just to go with the popular narrative. I can understand when a filmmaker has researched something and a filmmaker wants to make a point... Of course, there can be different viewpoints. If you want to demonise the Mughals, please base it on some research and make us understand why; why they were the villains that you think they were. Because if you do some research and read history, it's very tough to understand why they have to be villainised. I think they were the original nation-builders, and to write them off and say they murdered people... But what are you basing it on? Please point out the historical evidence. Please have an open debate, just don't go with the narrative that you think will be popular.”
Kabir also added that he thinks people are ‘trying to fit them into preconceived stereotypes’ which is distressing because ‘it's the easiest thing to demonise the Mughals and other Muslim rulers today.’
Saying that he cannot respect those films, Kabir Khan says he gets upset to see that kind of portrayal.
Kabir Khan's statement came ahead of the premiere of Nikkhil Advani’s The Empire. The magnum opus is slated to release on August 27 on Disney+ Hotstar and fans are pumped to see The Mughal Dynasty onscreen.
Image source: Instagram/ kabirkhankk