The role (of Subhas Chandra Bose in Shyam Benegal’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero) changed me as an actor and as a person as well. It was academically enriching. Until that role became my second nature, we didn’t start shooting for it. In fact, the character stayed with me even after the film was made and released in theatres. As a part of the prep that went for around six months, I read as many books as used for reference to the script. In fact, I lived the character for almost three years. It, by far, remains my best work. As we complete 75 years of Independence, I feel the younger generation must go back to read about our leaders, or at least watch films to be aware. — Sachin Khedekar, actor Subhas Chandra Bose

When you do a film on a freedom fighter, it leaves a huge impact on you. Going back to that history makes you realise how important it is for an individual to do something more for the nation. You live the character for 60-70 days of shoot and that influences the kind of vision you have for your country. I am lucky to have played Bhagat Singh (in Shaheed-e-Azam). My mother, a history professor, used to share books on our fight for independence. Right from my school days, I would read and watch such films. For everyone who is associated with a patriotic film — be it the technician or the audience — it changes everything. For me, Independence Day is not just about hoisting flags, but touching the lives of fellow Indians. There should be a special period where students learn about their country, their duties as a citizen and humanity. These things will prompt the newer generation to think more about the nation. — Sonu Sood, actor

For Rang De Basanti, apart from understanding the ideologies that the freedom fighters believed in, I didn’t do much research for my role (of Rajguru). But just hearing their stories inspired all of us. The kind of sacrifices our men made for our country… everyone has the right to freedom and these brave men fought for that. For me, patriotism means respect and love for the land you live on. It also means to respect and love the others who live on the land. I hope a day comes when the whole world becomes one nation — Sharman Joshi, actor

I always wanted to make a film about the armed revolution and the young guns of India who stood up against the British Raj because it made me wonder why these 20-something boys picked up the gun and walked to the gallows for the country with a smile. Patriotism means different things to different people. I wouldn’t call Rang De Basanti a patriotic film; it was about a generation waking up. You want to make the country perfect? Dirty your hands with running the country.

We all criticize the machinery like fence dwellers. When I found myself in the director’s chair, I felt I had a chance. — Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, director

When I made Bharathi, I wrote the screenplay with the intention of bringing Subramania Bharathiyar’s multifaceted nature on screen. Bharathi’s inability to work under a feudal king, joining forces with other extremist leaders in the freedom struggle, composing songs about nationalism and independence, resisting the British rule through newspapers and cartoons, his emphasis on women’s emancipation... I wanted the film to talk about it all. When you make a biopic on someone like Bharathi, it doesn’t stop with being a documentation of a life of a personality, but also becomes a film that reminds us of patriotism and our duty to the nation. — Gnana Rajasekaran, director

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— With inputs from V Lakshmi, Onkar Kulkarni, Preeti Atulkar, Rachana Dubey, Ruman Ganguly, M Suganth and Sunayana Suresh