Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri Grateful for Honorary Doctorate from DY Patil University

Renowned filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri recently shared his joy on Instagram after being awarded an honorary doctorate by DY Patil University, presented by the Governor of Maharashtra. Expressing his gratitude, Agnihotri remarked, “It can be anybody’s dream, and I was pleasantly surprised. I feel honored and more responsible now because it is given to people who specialize in some kind of academic field.”

Agnihotri, recognized for his exceptional contributions to cinema and research on the Indic renaissance, sees this recognition as an opportunity to use his cinema as a soft power for India. He believes in the significance of preserving and promoting Indian culture, stating, “I believe that our culture is the soul of society, and in the Indian context, it’s important that I should use my cinema as a soft power of India and to bring about rooted Indic stories.”

Reflecting on his journey, Agnihotri shared, “Everything began in 2010, and now it’s 2023. After 13 years of labor and lots of struggle, finally when somebody honors you, it is huge. For me, it is the biggest honor because I am the son of a professor and my father was a vice-chancellor.” Contrary to common misconceptions, he highlighted his academic background, mentioning, “I come from a middle-class family, so the dream of a doctorate was lost somewhere. I had been writing books to compensate for that, but when I was honored, I felt extremely blessed. At the same time, it also gives a lot of hope to many in pursuing things with all their heart and conviction.”