'Emotionally Challenging And Daunting': Pallavi Joshi Breaks Down The Bengal Files Experience

Introduction

Pallavi Joshi discusses how working on The Bengal Files became one of the most emotionally intense experiences of her career and why she felt a deep responsibility in telling this story. She also touches on the film’s OTT journey and her belief that portraying painful, lesser-known chapters of history is necessary, even when it is personally draining.

Emotional intensity of the role

Joshi describes the shoot as both “emotionally challenging” and “daunting”, explaining that many scenes dealing with riots, bloodshed and human suffering lingered in her mind long after filming ended. She notes that, similar to her experience on The Kashmir Files, listening to survivors’ accounts and recreating violent historical events took a heavy psychological toll.

Coping with difficult scenes

To cope with the stress of graphic and emotionally charged sequences, she relied on small rituals such as listening to music or going for late-night drives to “cleanse” her mind after a tough day on set. She mentions that each member of the team developed their own method to distance themselves from the disturbing images, even though those impressions were hard to shake off completely.

Historical context and responsibility

The Bengal Files is set around Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946 in Kolkata, depicting large-scale communal violence and its ripple effects across Bengal and other regions. Joshi feels that presenting this period, which she believes was deliberately under-discussed or obscured in mainstream narratives, carries a moral responsibility towards both history and audiences.

Portraying “forgotten” history

She says that the aim of the film is to bring to light stories of betrayal, bloodshed and survival that many viewers might be encountering for the first time. For Joshi and director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, the discomfort of engaging with such material is justified by the larger goal of revealing a reality that had been “systematically hidden”.

On reactions and criticism

Joshi is aware that some people label The Bengal Files as a “propaganda” film, but she frames the project as an attempt to confront uncomfortable truths rather than to appease any side. She recalls feeling anger and frustration during controversies and disruptions around the film’s promotional events, particularly when safety and dignity of those present were at risk.

Audience impact

Early reactions, including social media responses, describe the film as raw, intense and emotionally overwhelming, with viewers calling it a gut-wrenching experience. Joshi believes that this strong emotional impact is part of the film’s purpose: to force reflection on the human cost of political decisions and communal hatred.

OTT release and reach

Beyond its theatrical release, Joshi looks at the film’s OTT life as a way to reach viewers who might not watch such a heavy subject in cinemas. She hopes that streaming will allow younger audiences and those outside India to engage with the historical material and continue conversations sparked by the film.

Working with the team

Joshi highlights the ensemble cast and crew as crucial to sustaining the film’s demanding tone, praising co-actors and collaborators for their commitment to authenticity. She notes that the shared sense of purpose—telling a difficult story with honesty—helped the team endure the emotional strain of production.

“We are trying to present a kind of reality that nobody knows about, something that was systematically hidden from us.”

“The images stay with you for a long time.”

Author’s brief summary

An actress confronts a brutal, under-told chapter of history in The Bengal Files, describing an exhausting shoot that left lasting emotional scars but also a firm belief in the necessity of telling this story.

News18 — 2025-11-29