Ketan Mehta, who has made films like Sardar, Rang Rasiya, Mangal Pandey: The Rising and Manjhi: The Mountain Man, has been in the news for his upcoming film, a biopic on freedom fighter Usha Mehta, who played a pivotal role in the Quit India Movement of 1942. The biopic became a point of discussion also because it came to light that filmmaker Karan Johar, too, is reportedly planning a film on the same subject. Ketan Mehta spoke to BT exclusively about this and more:

India is a free country, and I can’t deny that my phoiba (aunt) makes for a great subject. I wish Karan all the best. I feel personally responsible that a tribute to her is made and presented as well as possible. It is a family legacy. My father was also a freedom fighter, and this is the only legacy dad and phoiba left us with and I feel this should be passed on to people. I have been out of the ring for a while. The last film I made was Toba Tek Singh and Manjhi: The Mountain Man. I am also not an industry insider to pick up the phone on another filmmaker and talk about things. I prefer to be that way. I am Usha Mehta’s kin and reaching out to me is their decision. If they want to do that, they can. And why would I anyway stop them from making their film? Yes, it’s unfortunate that these things happen all the time in our business. When I was making Rang Rasiya, it so happened that a few more films were in the pipeline on the same subject. I can’t stop others from doing what they want to do.

Usha Mehta was my father’s sister. I’ve grown up under her guidance, and she also spent the last 20 years of her life with us at our home. She has guided me all my life and that inspiration, I felt, should now be shared with the world at large. I made films like Mangal Pandey: The Rising and Sardar because the freedom movement has inspired me in a big way. This film is about the Quit India Movement, our last battle for freedom, which is the most underreported aspect of our freedom struggle. All the prominent leaders like Maulana Azad, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were in prison and the youngsters took over the mantle. They guided the nation in its last battle for independence with very little resources at their disposal. They used the radio to reach out to as many people as possible. That underground radio station was run by my aunt, Usha Mehta, at the age of 22. That entire phase between 1942 and 1947 has barely been recorded. Next year, it will be the 80th anniversary of the Quit India movement, hence the movie.

My grandfather was a judge in the court and he still allowed them, especially my aunt, which only goes on to show that he was an open-minded man, who not only made it a point to educate his daughter, but also support her decisions. Phoiba was studying to become a lawyer at that time. She went on to do her PhD degree, too. My grandfather didn’t know about the underground radio station, but he knew where the sentiments of his children were. I can imagine what that time must have been like...It was a do or die situation, youngsters took charge unprepared and took it to the finish line. Deep down, in all of this is a father-daughter story. I was very close to my aunt and this film is close to my heart.

It’s because our society was, and to a great degree, is patriarchal even today. It has forgotten the contribution made by women in our freedom struggle. Their work has remained unsung and that is the reason we need to look at our history with a different lens now, and revisit chapters to understand our past better while looking towards the future.

At this moment, all I can say is that the screenplay is still being worked upon. It’s very early to say who will be playing the part.