Through the Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Raima Sen and Nana Patekar-starrer, the director also offers his take on the “politics” that, he says, surrounded the vaccine’s creation. “At that time, people were trying to create doubts about our own vaccine. Akhilesh Yadav [initially] said he won’t take the ‘BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] vaccine,’” says the director, whose The Kashmir Files won two National Awards last month.

Last year, the movie sparked controversy at the International Film Festival of India when Israeli filmmaker and jury head Nadav Lapid described it as “a propaganda and vulgar movie”. Tell him that he is labelled a propaganda filmmaker, and Agnihotri retaliates, saying, “Name one director who is not a propaganda filmmaker. Everyone is propagating a certain idea or ideology. Like, some [director] says there is nothing but love. Is that true?” He adds that the label attached to him makes it tough for him to get financial backing. “The Vaccine War is a solo production, made with our own resources.”