Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; July 17, 2018)

Political drama, The Accidental Prime Minister is based on Sanjaya Baru’s memoir, The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh. Baru was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s media advisor for a period of four years. In the past, political dramas or films based on political figures have faced opposition from political parties. When Baru’s book hit the stands, it had to deal with bouquets as well as brickbats for the facts revealed in it.

Quiz Aahana Kumra, who plays Priyanka Gandhi in the film, about this and she says, “Any film can end up facing a backlash. My earlier film Lipstick Under My Burkha was banned though it was a purely fictional story that spoke about realities. The issues addressed in the film were problems that were faced by women all over the world. Even a film like Padmaavat faced trouble. I feel actors shouldn’t be apprehensive about working in films based on politics or political figures. I was surprised when I came to know that a film was being made on Sanjaya Baru’s book. I am happy to be playing a role that’s relevant to our times. Every film is trying to tell a story from its point of view. This film obviously is from the perspective of Sanjaya Baru. As an actor, I won’t be able to comment on whether what he has spoken about in the book is right or wrong. I am just doing my job. I can be honest to the script and the role that’s been given to me. I can’t be thinking if it is right as far representing the political scenario is concerned.”