Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 5, 2019)

He has seen 34 autumns as an actor and has been to several shores, acting in films belonging to different industries. Clearly, he’s not an accidental artiste. Anupam Kher, known for his sharp performances and unmistakable screen presence even in cameos, is gearing up for what he calls his best and the most difficult role by far. The Accidental Prime Minister features him as Dr Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India. The film, based on a book of the same name by Dr Singh’s media advisor Sanjaya Baru, reflects on an important and recent decade in Indian politics. Over to Anupam, who talks about biopics, Indian politics, censorship, freedom of expression and creativity, which he believes is selectively granted. Excerpts...

Your film, The Accidental Prime Minister, is fielding political controversies. But you don’t seem perturbed by the fact that it’s being perceived as a work of propaganda.
I think that controversy is bound to happen in an era where everyone has an opinion and an avenue to be heard. I’m celebrating the fact that the film is ready for release. I am predominantly euphoric. How many actors in their lifetime can boast of a career graph that begins with a film like Saaransh and achieves something like The Accidental Prime Minister? It’s a dream journey for a small-town boy with no godfather. Of course, God has been kind, the industry has been appreciative, and I have toiled with a lot of sincerity and honesty to get this far. So, today, a controversy doesn’t make me tense. If there is any, the producers will sort it out.

You’ve been quoted as saying that you didn’t instantly agree to act in the film, but you came around. What convinced you to accept the part after brushing it aside initially?
I felt the role could really challenge the actor in me. Yes, initially, when my friend Ashoke Pandit brought the film to me, I didn’t see the scope the role had to offer. When I merely tried imitating Dr Manmohan Singh’s style of walking and I couldn’t, I decided to take this up. At first, I didn’t think of this film as a challenge, but it became one. My ultimate achievement with The Accidental Prime Minister is that my mother couldn’t recognise me. With my experience and knowledge of this profession, I think I’m home with this part.

It is one thing to play a character dug out of history and another to play someone who is relevant to contemporary Indian politics. Comparisons and scathing commentary on how you’ve played the part are inevitable. Are you ready for that?
I am an educated and trained actor, I know my job and I am not afraid of failures. There is a saying that a brave man is also scared, but he is braver for five more seconds. Without mincing words, I’d say that no other actor could have done this role as brilliantly as I have done it. The film’s team has contributed to this immensely.

Biopics in India are often found guilty of white-washing their subjects; even Rajkumar Hirani faced flak for Sanju (based on actor Sanjay Dutt’s life) on similar grounds. However, in the case of this film, the allegation is the exact opposite. What are your thoughts?
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. 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.

Having said that, the outcome of the 2019 elections will have an impact on Narendra Modi’s biopic also, which is underway. It will probably go through similar scrutiny, right?
The beauty of art and cinema is that woh kisi party ya kisi ke objectives ke mohtaj nahi hain, chahe woh power mein ho… ya na ho. Yes, we are living in these times when films have to often face a lot of scrutiny and heat, but we are to blame for that. We tend to put the spotlight on a handful of people who raise objections; we don’t care if the rest of the country appreciates a piece of work. If a fringe group in UP or Rajasthan threatens to stall the release of a film, why do we give them so much importance? My grandfather often said, ‘Beta, behte darya ko kaun rok sakta hai?’ Films are like that; they will find their space to be seen and heard. Yes, their fate lies in the hands of the audience, but nothing can ever stop art from reaching out to its eventual patrons.

Do you feel freedom of expression is curbed in our country?
It’s selectively granted. There is a section of people who will, on the basis of what the subject matter is, decide whether they are for the freedom of expression or against it. We have no option right now, but to live through these times and do our work, which will hopefully bear results in the future.

Recently, your friend Naseeruddin Shah and you engaged in a duel of words over an opinion he put forth, for which he was also attacked by people on social media. Have you resolved your differences with him now?
What’s there to resolve with him? I have great respect for him as a senior and as a friend. Yes, Naseer gets irritated easily, not just with me but with others like Virat Kohli also. He has the right to say things he feels, but I don’t have to take it so seriously. I don’t take myself too seriously either. A person who does that is the most comical. Deep down, we know we love each other and that is what matters.

Naseer often says that we have this undying lust for the Oscars or at least, some form of approval from the West for our work. You have done some notable work in Hollywood. What’s your opinion on this?
It’s a brilliant feeling to be accepted in the West and in other parts of the world. It’s a good thing to widen your horizon. Of course, I was very happy to meet David O’ Russell, Woody Allen, Ang Lee and Robert De Niro, but I had the same feeling when I met Satyajit Ray and Dilip Kumar saab. You admire art and artistes, no matter where they come from. The Oscars have reached a stage where they’ve become a world phenomenon. Even I want to win an Oscar for The Accidental Prime Minister (smiles). With this film, I think I’ve done my best and I’m ambitiously hoping to win an Oscar. It’s potentially one of India’s best representatives in the Foreign Language Film category. A film that sells India’s picture of poverty is not necessarily the best work that comes out of this country. We don’t always have to put that picture out before the world. Our country has a dynamic face, too, and it’s time we present that through our cinema.