Don't think people's vote depends on a film: Anupam Kher to WION on controversy around 'The Accidental Prime Minister'

'The Accidental Prime Minister' ran into controversy since the time its trailer was released. The Congress has said that the film, which is based on former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh's tenure as PM, distorts facts and has demanded its screening before the film is released.

The film's lead actor Anupam Kher, who has portrayed Dr Singh on the screen, speaks to WION Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary about the film, the challenging role and the controversy around it.

Here's the full transcript of the interview:

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WION: Dr Manmohan Singh was called a 'Silent PM'. He never spoke. So how challenging it was to give voice to the 'Silent PM'?

Anupam Kher: It took me 7-8 months to get into the skin of his character and portray it on screen. It was very difficult because he expresses a lot of emotions with his blank face - whether it's joy, sorrow, orhe is hurt - and you still had to convey how he is feeling. I have done more than 500 films in my 35-year-long career, but I have never played a more difficult character on screen than this one. Dr Singh was not the leader of a foregone era, he is very much alive in the consciousness of current generation. People have seen him, they know how he behaves, so it became a big challenge for me to portray Dr Mamohan Singh on screen, especially his voice. I went back to my training days in National School of Drama (NSD) - how we used to do the voice training. I also watched his hours-long footage on YouTube and different channels. But he was not always a 'Silent PM'. I think he was hurt during his second stint - from 2009 - and that's why he became quiet. But he used to speak a lot earlier - he gave interviews to many people, spoke at various forums. I think he was hurt during the 2009-2014 stint, he was upset, so he became a 'Silent PM'.

It was a lot like what happens in our homes - sometimes the elders like our grandparents stop talking to us because they get upset. He had a great sense of humour, which comes across in the film. You will see his resilient character, a certain degree of stubbornness.

WION: At a personal level, are you a fan of Dr Manmohan Singh?

Anupam Kher: I became his fan after doing the film. I think he is a very charming man. There is a lot of charisma about him in a very different manner. He is not an extrovert, but I like his poetry and other interesting things that I learned about him during my research. When people will watch the film, they will see a very differnt character of Dr Manmohan Singh. When you will see a film of two hours, you will come across small nuances - his loneliness, his dejection, his joy and how hurt he was, his triumph and the way he used to think. He is very human, and that is what the film's character has portrayed him. He was also weak in some ways, to let other people dictate him. The reason for this is because he was not a politician, he was a bureaucrat.

WION: But did you feel he was helpless?

Anupam Kher: There was no need to do a film to show this. This was felt across the country by its citizens. We did feel that what's stopping him from taking certain decisions? Nobody questioned his honesty, his integrity, but sometimes weused to feel frustrated 'ki yaar ye kuchh bolte kyun nahi? Ye kuchh karte kyun nahi? (Why doesn't he speak? Why doesn't he do something?)'. From whatever I've read, his wife also used to feel the same. He will be proud of my portrayal of his character.

WION: Do you believe he will be happy after watching the film?

Anupam Kher: I have a feeling that if he does not feel hesitant after watching the film, he will definitely hug me and might even ask me to have a cup of tea with him. And I am saying this with sincerity.

WION: And what about Sonia and Rahul Gandhi? What will they think about you after watching the film?

Anupam Kher: Well, I can't give a reaction on that. They will perhaps say 'Don't have tea with him'.

WION: This film was controversial, now it has turned political after the BJP tweeted the trailer from its official handle. So there is an impression that the BJP is promoting this film and wants to gain political mileage out of it just before elections. What do you have to say?

Anupam Kher: I personally feel that a film can't decide voting pattern. Indian voter is very smart, otherwise there wouldn't have been surprises in election results. A political parties always use some things for their advantage - it has happened in the past too, with Congress. I remember reading tweets from politicians when 'Udta Punjab' was released. I think that's a personal opinion. And a political party will use any means to promote their point of view and whatever benefits them. This is a well-established fact that Mrs Gandhi did go to the President to become the Prime Minister as far as the research I have done is concerned. And then Subramanian Swamy told President Kalam that technically it cannot happen. So she had to choose from senior leaders like Pranab da, and she chose a person who was non-controversial, whose honesty was unquestionable and whom she could tell that this is what you have to do. All this is in public domain. And you don't have to wait for a film - things go viral even from television. Recently, the footage of Congress leaders telling Rahul Gandhi what to speak during an address went viral. Now if a filmmaker uses reproduces that in his/her film, how can there be objection on that? The opposition to this film is coming from a certain section of people, and it's unfortunate. But I've heard that some senior leaders in the Congress are saying that the film should not be opposed. It's a great thing and I'm thankful for that reaction.

WION: You would have known from Day 1 that if you do this film, Congress will be upset. Then what was the reason? Did you find the role challenging as an actor?

Anupam Kher: It was a lifetime opportunity for me to get a role as brilliant as that of Dr Manmohan Singh. It is the highlight of my career. And I have portrayed it as an actor. If I have to put across my political view, I don't need to make a film, I can record a video on mobile and post it on social media and millions can see it. Everyone has political leanings, but whenever I've spoken, I've spoken for my country. People think I am a political person; if I want to be a politician, I will join a political party and let you know that I've taken the political plunge.

WION: You often seem to back the BJP ideology and your wife is a BJP MP. It is being alleged that you did this film to please the BJP and that you want a ticket to Rajya Sabha from the BJP. What do you have to say about this?

Anupam Kher: No, no. I am an Indian actor trying to make India proud abroad. I don't want to come into politics, or a Rajya Sabha seat. My wife Kirron Kher has won Lok Sabha election, the seat was not offered to her on a platter. She fought the election and won it. I am an admirer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people are free to interpret. I have spent enough time in this industry to understand 'suno sabki, karo apni (listen to everyone, but do your own thing).'

WION: You say this is the best role of your life. But people are saying you are simply mimicking Dr Manmohan Singh, so is this acting or mimicry?

Anupam Kher: People who don't know acting are making such comments and I don't have time to react to these things.

WION: Had you thought while signing the film that it will run you into a controversy? And that this argument will reach this stage?

Anupam Kher: We've followed a process, the film was cleared by the Censor Board. The audience is mature enough, we can't fool them. If my audience likes my role, that's enough for me. I am not performing to please certain people, and that is what's important.