Vivek Agnihotri stirred controversy after labeling Maharashtrian food as “gareebon ka khana." The remark did not go down well with netizens who slammed him and even suggested to impose a ban on his films
Vivek Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri hails from Delhi and he is married to Pallavi Joshi, who is a Maharashtrian. He always grabs attention for his controversial statement and this time was no different. In a recent interview, Vivek called Maharashtrian food as gareebon ka khana after which he is facing ire of netizens.
Vivek Agnihotri on Maharashtrian food
In conversation with Curly Tales, Pallavi Joshi revealed, “Let me tell you about Maharashtrian dishes. Whatever I made, he did not like. ‘Yeh gareebon ka khana hai,’ he kept telling me throughout my life, and that’s exactly what he is eating now."
While talking about how it was a cultural shock for him, Vivek added, “I came from Delhi, where they eat butter chicken, kebab, tandoori—the food has masala, and there is ghee on top. We were newly married, so she said, let’s eat varan bhaat. But there’s no salt in varan. Also, they serve in small quantities. Now, I understand that the concept is don’t waste. But in Delhi, if someone is eating chicken and doesn’t throw 2-3 pieces, then he is not rich.”
While sharing this, he also praised Maharashtrian food later and said that, in the beginning, it was a cultural shock for him but now he eats more simple food. “I think that is the best way to eat. Jo Maharashtrian thaali hoti hai na, bahut economical, very healthy aur very good thaali," he added.
Netizens slam Vivek Agnihotri
Reacting to this, a netizen wrote, “Maharashtrian food and gareeb?? Plz give me a break.. it's d most diverse, rich in micronutrients and extremely healthy.” While another wrote, “vivekagnihotri aree jhattuu ahes ka tu jara Maharashtra sarkhya paramparik jevanala naav thevtois.”
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Not only this, netizens are even adamant to ban his movie. A user wrote, “Not interested in such brainless Page 3 level debates but the issue here is of perception. They think Marathi people are poor so our food is poor people's food. Varan Bhat, Sauteed Veggies etc is low cholesterol & healthy food.” To which one commented, “Let's ban his next movie in whole of Maharashtra.”
Not interested in such brainless Page 3 level debates but the issue here is of perception. They think Marathi people are poor so our food is poor people's food.
— दक्षिणपथाधीश (@bornauthority) August 19, 2025
Varan Bhat, Sauteed Veggies etc is low cholesterol & healthy food.pic.twitter.com/NerlcQphQF
Talking about Agnihotri, he is gearing up for release of The Bengal Files. The film is based on “Bengal genocide" of August 16, 1946, a historical event he believes has been deliberately erased from public memory. However, it is already facing heat from citizens. Its trailer launch even was also foiled which was supposed to happen at Kolkata.
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