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Shotgun Sinha: A Rare Breed of Actor, A Rarer Breed of Politician

On the 71st birthday of the man himself, a reminder of what he stands for – in the film industry and in politics. 

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On 6 January 2016, Shatrughan Sinha took Delhi by storm with the release of his no-holds-barred autobiography, Anything but Khamosh. Somewhat to my surprise, he invited me to write the Foreword to it. This is what I had to say:

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players, and yet when the hero rose, the stage froze to watch his act in Silence.
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Rarely do biographies bustle with the drama and excitement which Anything but Khamosh brings to the fore. The story of Shatrughan Sinha’s life and career is engaging, involving as it does a candid account of the Hindi film industry, with a glimpse into the equally compelling world of politics. Shatrughan’s reputation as an independent thinker, a non-conformist, and as a person who cares two hoots about stereotypes, is reaffirmed through the lively narration.

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On the 71st birthday of the man himself, a reminder of what he stands for –  in the film industry and in politics. 
The cover of Anything but Khamosh. (Photo courtesy: Twitter/@ShatrughanSinha)
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Rebranding Heroism

One can conclude from the stories of his childhood that the seeds of his unapologetic, brash and rebellious nature were sown very early in his life. The slaps he has received from his mother seem to outnumber those he has had to take from Bollywood heroes and BJP netas. Through it all, he has remained insouciantly himself.

Starting off as a brash filmi villain, Shatrughan introduced a new brand of heroism to the world of cinema through his maverick avatar, portrayed in his trademark style. At a time when his superstar contemporaries were romancing heroines, Shatrughan, with his portrayal as the Bollywood’s new baddie, and then as a rough-hewn hero, challenged the industry’s norms.

Similarly, when the BJP political establishment was falling in line behind the new leadership of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, Shatrughan did not hesitate to speak his own mind, even if it meant ploughing a lonely furrow.

As someone who is perfectly comfortable in his own skin, Shatrughan Sinha comes across as that rare breed of cinema star and even rarer variety of politician – the wholly authentic human being. Throughout the book, he does not mince his words when discussing his own personal life, baring warts and weaknesses with a great deal of honesty.

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Bollywood’s Filmi Villain and A Rational Thinker

The book is an objective, though sympathetic, appraisal of his life with a concluding premise that even those who bear a larger-than-life persona are not free from human flaws and quirks. The book ventures into the grey areas of Shatrughan’s life through Bharathi Pradhan’s words, and through the many anecdotes shared by several film personalities, a cross section of politicians and bureaucrats.

It is said that a man’s achievements can be measured by the respect he garners from his fraternity. It is fascinating how Shatrughan has not only received the respect of his peers but has also inspired the acting styles of formidable super-stars like Chiranjeevi and Rajnikanth.

It is quite admirable that Shatrughan’s passion for social reform and consciousness of public service inspired him to shun the illusions of comfort and embark on the tumultuous path of politics. His independent discourse and rational thoughts have guided him in prioritising issues over ideologies.

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As a minister in the UPA government, viewing Shatrughan Sinha in the front benches of the BJP opposition, I was struck by the courtesy with which he treated me. His uncommon graciousness in applauding some of my speeches is a trait all-too-uncommon in our uncivil politics.

We started off as political adversaries and became personal friends. That is a tribute to his essential decency and his ability to transcend the artificial boundaries that divide us.

And, whenever entreated persistently enough, he could always be relied upon to issue a stirring rendition of his immortal “Khamosh!”

May he – through this enjoyable book and through the many deeds left to him to perform in the years ahead – never be silenced.

(This story is from The Quint’s archives and was first published on 9 December 2015 to mark Shatrughan Sinha’s birthday.)

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