'This Should Be A Crime': Dhruv Rathee Slams Vivek Agnihotri For Showing A-Rated Film The Bengal Files To Kids

On Friday, The Bengal Files director Vivek Agnihotri shared a picture of a theatre that is houseful. He tweeted, 'One picture says it all,' hinting that people are keen to watch his movie. While Agnihotri has not mentioned The Bengal Files in the caption, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee slammed the filmmaker because in the picture there are kids in the theatre, and The Bengal Files is an 'A-rated' movie.

Rathee replied to Vivek's tweet and wrote, "Are you seriously making children watch an Adult rated film? This should be a crime. You are traumatising their childhood by showing them so much blood, gore and violence (sic)."

One picture says it all. pic.twitter.com/7H1rIFaTGZ

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) September 12, 2025

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Many other netizens have reacted to the picture of kids watching The Bengal Files. A netizen tweeted, ""The Bengal Files" has received an A (18+ adults only) certificate from the CBFC. The attached photo by director Vivek Agnishotri clearly shows numerous children and teenagers, evidently under 18, inside the theatre. What penalties apply for screening adult-rated films to minors? Law penalizes cinemas or the event organizers? (sic)"

Another X user wrote, "Which theatre is this?? How are children allowed to watch an A-rated movie? @MIB_India @prasoonjoshi_ @AshwiniVaishnaw what a joke CBFC certification is ??? (sic)." Check out the tweets below...

"The Bengal Files" has received an A (18+ adults only) certificate from the CBFC. The attached photo by director Vivek Agnishotri clearly shows numerous children and teenagers, evidently under 18, inside the theatre.

What penalties apply for screening adult-rated films to… pic.twitter.com/lRhZCLxmm8

— Dharmesh Dixit (@theDDixit) September 12, 2025

Which theatre is this??
How are children allowed to watch an A-rated movie?@MIB_India @prasoonjoshi_ @AshwiniVaishnaw what a joke CBFC certification is ???

— Komal (@Komal_Indian) September 12, 2025

Fact check:

The image likely depicts a screening of "The Bengal Files," an A-rated film, with children and teens present, potentially violating CBFC guidelines.

Theaters in India, including those screening "The Bengal Files," are not legally allowed to let patrons sit on the…

— GD Pai (@GD_Pai_blr) September 12, 2025

Vivek Agnihotri has not yet given any clarification about kids watching The Bengal Files.

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The Bengal Files Box Office Collection

While The Bengal Files received majorly positive reviews from the critics, the film has failed to make a strong mark at the box office. The film in seven days has collected Rs. 11.25 crore.

It is reportedly made on a budget of Rs. 35-40 crore, so it surely needs to show a miraculous jump at the box office during its second weekend.