MUMBAI MIRROR (April 19, 2019)

Vivek Oberoi, on Thursday, expressed happiness at the response of the officials of the Election Commission, who watched his upcoming film PM Narendra Modi, and said he hoped the film will be screened soon.

“Election Commission officials have watched the movie on Wednesday. The first thing we asked them was how did they find the movie? However, I cannot reveal their answer as it is the constitutional body and we ought to respect it. Though their answer made us happy,” the actor, who plays the titular role in the film, was quoted as saying.

“Now I just pray that they let us release the movie,” he added.

Seven officials of a committee set up for the special screening by the Election Commission watched the Modi biopic on the directions of the Supreme Court.

A top court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, asked the EC to watch the Narendra Modi biopic and submit its view to the court by April 22 in a sealed cover.

“I have been reiterating that neither the movie nor me are related to the BJP. There is no intention and financial funding involved in the movie,” Vivek said, adding that the film’s team “is sad and stricken. We had a lot of hopes. It took one and a half years to make the film and we were excited. However, when the movie is stalled just a day before the release, it does make the entire team sad.”

Responding to the allegation that the movie might influence the decision of people, the actor said, “If that’s the case then voters can be influenced by advertisements, political opinion and special comments in editorial columns.”