Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri posts that his Mumbai balcony sofa caught fire after an errant Diwali firecracker rocket hit it, but he later deletes the controversial post amid online backlash. Multiple outlets say he credits his dogs with alerting the family in time and points to the sofa’s fire-resistant fabric as a factor in preventing a larger accident.
Agnihotri also uses the incident to question firework safety and enforcement. Several reports describe him urging Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde to apply safety rules strictly and to hold responsible parties accountable for fire safety and compliance. The story then shifts in coverage to his decision to remove the “sofa caught fire” Diwali post, with Agnihotri saying he did not want to become a reason for further outrage or to undermine cultural and environmental sentiments.
Across the outlets, the core incident and his overall message about safety risk from stray rockets are consistent. Differences mainly relate to emphasis: some focus more on the deletion and backlash framing, while others foreground the safety appeal and enforcement angle; one also highlights a leadership/values quote attributed to the Bhagavad Gita.
