Vivek Agnihotri shares wisdom from Mahabharata, quotes Bhishma Pitamah amid rising India-Pakistan tensions: 'In times of war..'

As tensions rise between India and Pakistan, many actors and directors have spoken out to support the Indian Armed Forces. Among them, Vivek Agnihotri, the director of ‘The Kashmir Files’, shared a message from the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata that shines a light on how people reveal their true selves in difficult times.

Vivek Agnihotri shares ancient wisdom on crisis
On Friday morning, Agnihotri took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a quote from Mahabharata’s Udyoga Parva, Chapter 71. He quoted Bhishma Pitamah, a great warrior and teacher from the epic.

He wrote in hindi and also gave english translation, “In the Udyoga Parva of Mahabharata, Chapter 71, Bhishma says:“Just as fire purifies gold, and service purifies a king, In times of war/crisis, a person’s true nature shines through”

In the Udyoga Parva of Mahabharata, Chapter 71, Bhishma says:

“सुवर्णं शुद्ध्यति वह्निना, नृपः शुद्ध्यति सेवया।
विपत्तौ च नरः शुद्ध्यति, शीलं च गुणवान् भवेत्॥”

“Just as fire purifies gold, and service purifies a king,
In times of war/crisis, a person’s true nature shines…

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 9, 2025

A call for restraint and watchfulness
Just a day earlier, on Thursday, Agnihotri had already addressed the situation. In a serious and thoughtful tone, he urged everyone to stay calm but also alert. He wrote, “A Time for Restraint—But Vigilance in the East. It’s time for us to leave these matters to the capable, dynamic and decisive leadership of PM @narendramodi. While I have many thoughts and emotions to express, I’ve chosen to refrain from engaging with the media or posting on social media, as I believe it would only add to the noise—and in this parallel infowar, could lead to unintended consequences. We now must allow the @PMOIndia and @adgpi to act as they deem fit. Yet, I strongly urge the government to remain vigilant on India’s eastern front—particularly Bengal and its adjoining regions. BEWARE.”

A Time for Restraint—But Vigilance in the East

It’s time for us to leave these matters to the capable, dynamic and decisive leadership of PM @narendramodi.

While I have many thoughts and emotions to express, I’ve chosen to refrain from engaging with the media or posting on… pic.twitter.com/qBaWoHKLAz

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 8, 2025

Anupam Kher shares brave spirit from Jammu
Agnihotri is not alone. ‘The Kashmir Files’ files actor Anupam Kher had also shared a touching video from his cousin in Jammu after Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks there.

Kher wrote, “My cousin brother Sunil Kher sent this video from his home in Jammu. I immediately called and asked if he and his family were okay. He laughed a little proudly and said, ‘Bhaiya! We are in India! We are Indians. Our protection is being taken care of by the Indian Army and Mata Vaishno Devi. You don’t worry. Anyway, we’re not letting a single missile touch the ground here.’ Jai Mata Di! Bharat Mata Ki Jai!”

The rising tensions between India and Pakistan have led to serious steps being taken by the entertainment industry as well. The much-awaited romantic comedy ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’, starring Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, was set for a big-screen release on 9 May. But because of the rising tensions, the film’s theatrical release has been cancelled. Instead, the film will now premiere on an OTT platform.

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