Pallavi Joshi, the actress and producer of the upcoming film The Bengal Files, has strongly criticized the West Bengal administration for halting the film's trailer launch in Kolkata on August 16, 2025. She characterized the government's actions as "unconstitutional" and an "assault on democracy".

The film, directed by Joshi's husband Vivek Agnihotri, explores the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings, a tragic historical episode during the final years of British colonial rule. It stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Saswata Chatterjee, and Joshi herself. The Bengal Files is slated for release on September 5, 2025.

According to NDTV, Kolkata Police sources stated that the director had not sought administrative permission for a public trailer viewing. However, Joshi refuted this claim, stating that the trailer launch was stopped on "laughable grounds," citing the lack of municipal permission. She described the events that followed as chaotic, noting that several women journalists were hurt, and she herself felt uncomfortable. She expressed gratitude to her husband, Vivek Agnihotri, for helping her to get out of the situation.

At the trailer launch event in New Delhi, Joshi stated, "Since the story is rooted in Bengal, we felt it would be most appropriate to launch the trailer in Bengal in August, but the government silenced us. We feel it is an act which is not only arbitrary but also unconstitutional". She further added, "What happened that day was not merely an assault on the film, but an assault on democracy itself. The voices of people and the voice of Bharat were suppressed and censored". Joshi also argued that the government's actions validated the film's theme, which revolves around the absence of dignity and the value of human life.

Joshi directly blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, led by Mamata Banerjee, for the blockade. She acknowledged the anticipation of resistance but expressed surprise at the extent of the opposition, preventing them from showcasing the trailer altogether. She emphasized the significance of choosing Kolkata for the trailer launch on August 16, the anniversary of Direct Action Day. Joshi voiced her opinion that instead of stifling such narratives, the government should assist in uncovering these stories.

Joshi is known for her role in The Kashmir Files, which centered on the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir. In that film, she played Professor Radhika Menon, a JNU professor who motivates her students to fight for 'Azad Kashmir'. Joshi has stated that she wanted every Indian to hate her character, which was believed to have been modeled after Arundhati Roy.

The Kashmir Files attracted controversy, with some critics calling it "propaganda". Joshi responded to these criticisms, stating that the film truthfully and objectively told India's story. She also criticized Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid for calling the film "vulgar and propaganda," labeling him a "genocide denier" who used the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) platform for a "political agenda".