Manmohan Singh’s Integrity Is Unquestionable: Anupam Kher

My views on the scams that happened during the UPA era remain unchanged, says the actor.

Anupam Kher essays the role of former PM Manmohan Singh in The Accidental Prime Minister.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who just resigned as chairperson of FTII, says his “perception” of former PM Manmohan Singh “has changed” during the shoot of his film The Accidental Prime Minister in which he plays Dr Singh. His views on the scams that happened during the UPA governance is however unchanged.

In an interview with Economic Times, Kher said that he discovered that Singh’s integrity is unquestionable and he’s “honest enough to admit that”. He added:

“People would joke with me saying I am working in a silent film. This notion about Singh being a mute spectator is completely wrong. He spoke a lot to Baru and to his bureaucrats. His handling of the nuclear deal and the way he behaved with his wife were interesting.”

Anupam Kher, Actor

The Accidental Prime Minister is based on the eponymous book written by Singh’s media advisor (2004-2008) Sanjaya Baru.

Kher also said that he had to internalise Singh’s character over the one year of the shoot. Initially he had reservations about the role as there was this huge notion about Singh being corrupt or that he “gave way to corrupt people. But it took me all these months to change my view of him.”

This however, shouldn’t be taken as Kher feeling any differently about UPA.

“My views on the scams that happened during the UPA era remain unchanged. 2-G, coal scams shouldn’t have happened. The movement against corruption was real. But I do feel Manmohan Singh’s personal integrity is unquestionable.”

Anupam Kher and director Vijay Gutte on the sets on The Accidental Prime Minister.

Kher added that he still remains an admirer of PM Narendra Modi. He said, “I still remain an ardent admirer of PM Modi who I feel has done several good things for the country.”

Talking about the challenges of playing Manmohan Singh on screen, Kher said that the most difficult bit was to convey the former PM’s stillness and his quality of not being ruffled by anything without exaggeration on screen. He said: “It was not like playing Gandhi or Mussolini but a living person. The most dominating quality about Singh was his stillness. He was stubborn and would get his point across. But be it the expression of emotion, disappointment, anger, or happiness, he would remain unruffled.”

The Accidental Prime Minister is directed by Vijay Gutte and releases on 7 December.

(Source: Economic Times)