Kher calls it the best performance of his life.
Anupam Kher has refused to the opposition Congress’ demands of a special screening of his upcoming film ‘The Accidental Prime Minister.’ Kher, in a press conference on Friday, was responding to the assertions made by the Maharashtra Youth Congress that objected to the recently released trailer of the political drama.
The organisation has also demanded a special pre-release screening of the film - based on Dr. Manmohan Singh's tenure as India's prime minister.
The Maharashtra Youth Congress later withdrew its command.
When asked by the media when the makers plan to hold a screening ahead of its January 11 release, the veteran actor retorted, ‘Why should we?’ Then what is the use of the Censor Board’’
He added, ‘The only person, if he asks me, that I would like to have a screening - not to sort of ask if it is right or not - is Dr. Manmohan Singh.’
Calling "The Accidental Prime Minister" his "life's best performance", actor Anupam Kher on Friday said the film should be seen as a creative endeavour and not an attempt to support a political party.
The actor said playing former prime minister Manmohan Singh is the most challenging role of his career and he was initially reluctant to take up the project as he was aware it will land into controversies.
"I felt that it is a very powerful story of modern India's political decade and I'm getting a chance to be a part of it as an actor. I am someone who has always reinvented himself as an actor," Kher said here at a press conference, which he had called after Maharashtra Youth Congress asked for a screening of the film prior to its release, a demand they later withdrew.
When informed that Maharashtra Youth Congress had withdrawn its demand, the actor said, "It is good if they have changed the thought process. It is fantastic. It is a great sign of maturity." Kher dismissed that the film is his way of supporting the BJP.
"I have done 515 films, there are not even as many political parties. If I have to support a party I can do it on any platform. I will not try to make a film for that," he said.
Earlier in the day, Kher had tweeted that he was not going to "back off" due to the controversy.
"I am not going to back off. This is my life's best performance. Dr Manmohan Singh will agree after seeing the film that it is a 100 per cent accurate depiction," he tweeted. The trailer of the film, based on the book of the same name by Sanjay Baru who served as Singh's media advisor 2004 to 2008, was released on Thursday.
It depicts Singh as a victim of Congress' internal politics ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The trailer drew sharp reactions from the Congress, which dubbed it a "propaganda film", but Kher said it was a bold attempt to look at real events through the medium of the biopic for the first time in India.
"For the first time in independent India, we made a revolutionary film on real people with real names...This is the age of biopics; why can't we make a film on what happens inside the PMO." Citing the example of Oscar-winning actors such as Ben Kingsley, Daniel Day-Lewis and Meryl Streep, the actor said they have received appreciation for playing political figures, "Then why is my work not seen as art?... It is the most difficult role of career. I researched for six-seven months before taking up the role." Kher had earlier referred to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's recent statement that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. This was in response to a party leader objecting to the language used to describe his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, in the Netflix series "Sacred Games".
In the press conference Kher retiterated his earlier comments saying, "We talk about freedom of expression, but when we practice our right, people try to curb it. Cinema has to move on, we have to move on with maturity and allow people to make films. Why can't we make a film on politics?" On Thursday, the controversy began after BJP's official Twitter handle shared the link to the trailer of the film.
"Riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years. Was Dr Singh just a regent who was holding on to the PM's chair till the time heir was ready? Watch the official trailer of 'TheAccidentalPrimeMinister', based on an insider's account, releasing on 11 January," the party said.
Responding to the BJP, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter that "such fake propaganda" by the party would not stop it from asking the Modi government questions on "rural distress, rampant unemployment, demonetisation disaster, flawed GST, failed Modinomics, all pervading corruption .
Singh evaded questions on the film at the Congress' foundation day function at the party headquarters on Friday.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also tweeted on the film, saying, "Can't wait for when they make The Insensitive Prime Minister. So much worse than being the accidental one." Directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, the film stars Kher as Manmohan Singh and Akshaye Khanna as Baru.
1. BJP praises movie
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Following the release of the trailer on Thursday, the official Twitter handle of BJP called it a "riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years".
When asked if it isn’t unusual for a political party to do that, the 63-year-old replied, ‘How can we stop somebody to say whatever they want to say’’
2. Based on Baru's book
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'The Accidental Prime Minister' is based on facts as chronicled in a book by Sanjaya Baru-- Manmohan Singh's media advisor between 2004 and 2008. It revolves around Singh's life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
3. Cong calls it fake propaganda
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Responding to the BJP, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter that such fake propaganda by the party would not stop it from asking the Modi government questions on "rural distress, rampant unemployment, demonetisation disaster, flawed GST, failed Modinomics, all pervading corruption .
4. Won't back off: Kher
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Calling "The Accidental Prime Minister" his "life's best performance", actor Anupam Kher on Friday said he will not back off from the snowballing controversy over the film on former prime minister Manmohan Singh.
The actor, who plays the title role in the movie, also took a swipe at Maharashtra Youth Congress' threat to stop the release unless it is first shown to them, saying they should be happy a film has been made on their leader.
"I am not going to back off. This is my life's best performance. #DrManmohanSingh will agree after seeing the film that it is a 100% accurate depiction," Kher tweeted. The trailer of the film, based on the book of the same name by Sanjay Baru who served as Singh's media advisor 2004 to 2008, was released here on Thursday
5. Rahul Gandhi said he stands for FOE: Anupam Kher
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It depicts Singh as a victim of Congress' internal politics ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The trailer drew sharp reactions from the Congress, which dubbed it a "propaganda film". The party's Maharashtra youth wing wrote a letter to the producers of the films to demand a special screening.
"They should be happy that a film has been made on their leader. They should bring the crowd to watch the film as it has dialogues such as 'Will I sell my country?' which shows how great Manmohan Singh ji is," Kher told television channels.
"The more they protest, the more publicity they will give to the film. The book has been out since 2014, no protests were held since then, so the film is based on that," he said.
Kher also referred to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's recent statement that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. This was in response to a party leader objecting to the language used to describe his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, in the Netflix series "Sacred Games".
"I had read Rahul Gandhi ji's tweet where he spoke about freedom of expression. So I think he should scold these people and tell them they are doing wrong." BJP's official Twitter handle has shared a link to the trailer.
6. Not banned in MP
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The Congress-led government in Madhya Pradesh Friday said it has not banned the film 'The Accidental Prime Minister', in which Anupam Kher plays former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Department of Public Relations of Madhya Pradesh government tweeted that there is no decision by the government to ban the film, adding that media reports announcing the ban were not factual. The film has sparked a row over alleged distortion of facts. The clarification came after a section of media reported that the film, based on the book of the same name by Singh's media advisor Sanjaya Baru, has been banned in the state.
7. Rathore reaction
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With the Congress attacking the BJP after it lauded the trailer of "The Accidental Prime Minister", starring Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh, Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore on Friday asked whether his party doesn't even have the freedom to extend wishes to a film.
8. Book released in 2014
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The trailer of the film, based on the book of the same name by Sanjaya Baru who served as Singh's media advisor from 2004 to 2008, was released in Mumbai on Thursday. The trailer shows Singh as a victim of the Congress's internal politics ahead of the 2014 general elections.
