Actor-politician Shekhar Suman is willing to let bygones be bygones with actor Kangana Ranaut for the sake of “the greater good”. Stepping into his new role for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he is willing to forget the public fallout the Suman family had with Ranaut after his son, actor Adhyayan Suman had a breakup with her in 2008.

“Ideologically, we can work in tandem — we don’t have to work together,” says Suman, adding, “But yes, there is no rancour. Let’s be more human, rather than just holding on to the past. Things happen in the heat of the moment and then people go about doing their jobs. Let’s forget it.”

In addition to mending fences with Ranaut, the 61-year-old also plans to act as an “intermediary” between the political system and the film industry. “There is always a way around a problem. If there is a deficiency somewhere, some lack of understanding, I can be the bridge. I can try and bring about a sense of rationality,” says Suman, who was seen in Heeramandi.

Authorities raising objections to scenes in films or titles is common, and Suman hopes to help all parties involved reach the “middle point” in such situations. “The aim should be to solve the problem, and if you are wrong, then accept it without any hesitation. You have to raise your voice, but do it in amicably,” he says, adding that from the political POV, looking down on films for unfounded reasons is uncalled for. “The thing started with ‘They are druggies’, ‘There is nepotism’. That is not right! It is a part of it but it is a part of any profession. There are so many good people in the industry who are making fantastic films,” he wraps up.