Manoj Muntashir Reflects on Adipurush Controversy: “Nothing is Permanent in Life”

The dialogue writer opens up about his emotional struggles and lessons learned after facing backlash for Adipurush’s dialogues, emphasizing personal growth and the unpredictable nature of Bollywood.

Manoj Muntashir, the dialogue writer of the Prabhas-starrer Adipurush, faced widespread criticism following the film’s release, particularly for its dialogues. In the wake of the controversy, Muntashir previously clarified that his intentions were never to offend religious sentiments or tarnish the image of revered figures like Lord Ram and Hanuman. However, he recently shared how deeply the backlash affected him on a personal level, admitting that it brought him to tears.

In a conversation with Shubhankar Mishra on his YouTube channel, Muntashir reflected on the emotional toll the controversy took on him. He revealed, “Roya tha mai” (I cried). Reflecting further, he said, “As a human, I realized that nothing in life is permanent. What is present today may not exist tomorrow, and what is good today might turn bad tomorrow. But even what’s bad today can become good in the future. I haven’t stopped, I haven’t bowed down; I am working day and night.”

The controversy, which centered around the film’s dialogues and visual effects (VFX), sparked significant criticism, leading Muntashir to introspect about the industry and his place in it. When asked about his learnings from Bollywood, he compared the film industry to a marketplace, stating, “Bollywood is a market, and in the market, there are no fixed rules; profit is the only rule. When they find it profitable to come to me, they will come, and they are already coming.”

Upon its release, Adipurush garnered mostly negative reviews, with much of the critique aimed at its dialogues and VFX. In a previous interview with AajTak.in, Muntashir openly acknowledged his mistakes. He admitted that the backlash was a result of his missteps and assured that he would be more cautious in the future.

He also addressed concerns about his abilities, making it clear that while the error was significant, it did not shake his confidence in his writing. “It was a major mistake,” he said, “but I would never deliberately do anything like this.”