Gurnaaz Kaur
Amidst all the controversies surrounding the upcoming biopic PM Narendra Modi, its lead actor Vivek Oberoi is rather gung-ho about the film that is set to hit the big screen this week. Having faced similar arguments, the actor seems well-prepared to deal with all questions thrown at him.
Lasting impact
He is unflustered, thanks to the lifestyle modifications he has made while portraying Modi, which he has all plans to keep up with. “I tried to adopt some of his habits. I now wake up every morning at four, no matter what happens; I do meditation, pranayam and after that I sit down for my work. I have become completely saatvik and somehow it is working for me.” He says of all the 45 characters he has played, they stayed with him during the period of film but this one is the one so far that has left a lasting impact. “It has stayed with me.”
Divine plan
Running around to promote the film round-the-clock, facing ‘mountains of challenges’ to get this passion project out, Vivek thinks there has never been a film that has been so vociferously opposed. “It has been dragged from High Court to Supreme Court, to Election Commission to every possible platform where there can be an opposition. We have faced every kind of systematic harassment. We are mentally stressed, but here I am sitting and talking to you. This comes from a sense of strength that it is all happening according to a divine plan. I credit this thought process to the change I have brought in my life.”
Tough challenge
That’s not to say that he is all good or Godly. “I do feel tired, why are they doing what they are doing? Such illustrious people, leaders in their own right, why would they say such false things about me?”
On being called a prop-up, stooge, he wonders these are the same people who loved him and appreciated his work. “Now suddenly all my body of work, my credibility has become — bhakt hai. With no facts behind it.”
Inspirational journey
Portraying a PM, who is all around, whose story is known to everyone, what is different about this film? Does it also include his grey areas? The parts that we mostly miss, like that of abandoning his wife? “Our focus is very simple. It focuses on the inspirational journey of a man. Now in that journey, there are challenges, there are critics, there are difficulties, there are people who abuse; there are all kinds of things. All of this has been presented in the film. What we chose to represent and how much screen time we gave it is our creative call,” he asserts.
Timing issues
The decision to release the film at the time of elections is again taken by the team, can it influence the number of voters? He laughs sarcastically, “This is only a film. As far as my understanding goes, people vote on the basis of politicians’ work, not on the basis of a film. Won’t all parties otherwise make a film instead of campaigning? Sab bolte, bhaiya, film dekh lo aur vote de do.”
Right to opinion
Films do have a huge role in shaping the opinion of the masses and so do actors. Voicing their political leaning isn’t then a way of promoting biases? In a jiffy, he turns the tables. “Everybody has the democratic right to express their opinion. People can campaign for or against someone. Journalists shape people’s opinions more than actors do. Actors come up once in five years to talk about their political opinions, while journalists talk about it every single day — be it through a column or a news channel. A chaiwala sitting on a street or a paanwala has the right to voice his opinion. Everyone must express their political opinion and be part of the political discourse in the country. If you are not part of it, then you are uninterested in what’s happening in your country.”
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2G6bnRY
via Today’s News Headlines
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