Amar Singh turns actor-cum-advisor for Bengali film

After a brief stint in a couple of Bollywood films, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh has gone a step ahead doubling up as a script-advisor and actor for a Bengali film.

"This is a film of struggle between the landless and the land grabbers, the haves and the have-nots. The entire story of the film is very topical considering today's situation in West Bengal," Singh, who spent his growing up years in the city, told PTI.

With party leader and actress Jaya Prada producing and playing the lead role in Sesh Sanghat (The Last Conflict), Singh plays the role of an ex-minister in Bengal who sympathises with the tribal movement and guides an honest cop, played by Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff, in dealing with the land agitation issue.

"But I certainly don't want to stick to acting. I am an avid movie buff so I cannot say no to actors whom I have grown up watching. Moreover, Since Jaya is very closely associated to me and my party, how could I have said no to her," he said.

"Amarji assisted us in the script as he's playing a retired minister and there was a lot of technical governmental language used, so he helped us with that. He also helped us in understanding the issue of industrialisation, land acquisition, industrialisation versus tribal rights, etc," National-award-winning director Ashok Viswanathan said. 

"Initially, he was like an adviser on land issues and political issues. But as it went along, subsequently we thought he should also do a role. Initially hesitant, he agreed later on," he added.

The 53-year-old politician, known for his proximity to the film industry, has earlier acted in two films, Aishwarya Rai, Anil Kapoor starrer, 'Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hain' and 'Apne' alongside Dharmendra.

"But there I played myself. This is the first time where I am playing a character. On the request of Dev sahab, I have also accepted to act in 'Chargesheet', which will be released soon," said Singh. The director said that though he shot the film in 2007, it has an uncanny resemblance with the ongoing Lalgarh strife.
       
"Whatever we had filmed long back after writing the film in 2007, is being replayed in real life. At least the Maoist side of it. There are many similar scenes which were shot well before they happened," Viswanathan said. The film shot in districts like Bankura, Purulia and Birbhum along the Bengal-Jharkhand border releases this Friday in West Bengal.