Anupam Kher is a versatile actor who has acted in different genres of films in different film industries as well. He is well-known for his unmistakable screen presence and remarkable acting even in small cameos. Now he is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film The Accidental Prime Minister in which he essays the role of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In a recent interview given to a leading daily, the actor spoke about biopics that are made in India and how different his film is from the usual ones that are made in India as it does not whitewash its subject.
During the interview, Anupam was asked that biopics in India were often accused of whitewashing their subjects like Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanju and received flak for it, but The Accidental Prime Minister is exactly opposite so what is his take on it. To this Anupam said, “I haven’t seen Sanju, but a biopic is a filmmaker’s interpretation of someone’s life. Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa offers three different perspectives on the same story. The Accidental Prime Minister is based on a book, written by Dr. Singh’s media advisor, who had closely seen everything that happened at the PMO. Once people see the film, they will have an informed opinion. It’s very easy to watch a trailer and jump to conclusions, threaten people and make splashy, controversial remarks.”
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Anupam Kher as Dr Manmohan Singh in The Accidental Prime Minister[/caption]
He further added, “This film is a historic step in filmmaking because we’re not going under pseudo names for any character. Dr. Singh is Dr. Singh in the film; he doesn’t go by another name. Before this, we have not made a political biopic with the real names of people, but going forward, hopefully, other filmmakers will do it. The director of my film wants to change the grammar of cinema and perhaps, he’s made the first move. If we no longer show flowers kissing on screen, why should we hesitate to call people by their names in real-life dramas? Why shouldn’t the political arena be explored as a subject for a film, especially when it impacts our life deeply? And I’m sorry, but there is no good or bad timing to bring out a political biopic. It can very well release in the pre-election phase. People have to stop targeting films and start seeing them as instruments of change and records of our times.”
Well, we agree with what Anupam has to say because film’s at the end of the day films depict real life and if it’s a biopic then it should be true to the life and times of the person it depicts onscreen.
