Actress Soha Ali Khan says "31st October" will serve to break the stereotypical image of a comedian that her co-star Vir Das is trapped in.
"It was great working with him (Vir Das). I have known him since before. I have seen his performances. Everyone knows him as a comic actor, but I think this film is important for him because it breaks that stereotype," Soha said here.
"31st October" is based on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination and its repercussions. Soha and Vir essay a Sikh couple in the movie, which will hit the screens on October 7.
Talking about Vir's character, Soha said: "Even though his character is very genial, what happens to him is serious. So it's nice to see the characterisation of someone who is fun loving and happy suddenly face these situations and changes them."
CBFC TREATS AUDIENCE LIKE CHILDREN, SAYS SOHA ALI KHAN
Soha Ali Khan, whose mother Sharmila Tagore was once chief of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), says the censorship body needs to stop treating the audience as children.
The actress, whose film "31st October" struggled for clearance, says artistes are all for certification over censorship.
"31st October" is based on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination and its repercussions. Considering the sensitive topic, the makers had to face a lot of trouble with the CBFC.
How frustrating was it?
"It was very frustrating, of course. As artistes, we don't believe in censorship. We believe in certification and I feel sometimes they cut too much," Soha told reporters at a press conference here.
"They treat the audience as children... It is very frustrating," the 37-year-old said.
She says she felt more frustrated for the film's writer-producer Harry Sachdeva as "31st October" is "the one film he has, which he is pushing".
"He chose a diplomatic route because this film is important for him. He didn't want to be aggressive about it... He slowly convinced the censor board," she added.
Soha said the censors first asked for 40 cuts in the movie, and then the cuts were scaled to none.
On his part, Sachdeva said that there shouldn't be any interference with creativity.
