Anupam Kher looks every bit of Manmohan Singh in the first look of a film adaptation of Sanjay Baru's controversial book "The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh", in which the veteran actor essays the former Indian Prime Minister.
Anupam released the first-look poster of the film on Wednesday.
"To reinvent yourself as an actor is to challenge yourself. Looking forward to portraying Manmohan Singh in 'The Accidental Prime Minister'," Anupam tweeted.
The black and white poster shows the side profile of Anupam, dressed as Manmohan Singh -- complete with a white beard and turban. The focus of the poster is, however, more on the silhouette of a woman -- presumably Congress President Sonia Gandhi -- standing in the corridors of Parliament House.
To reinvent yourself as an actor is to challenge yourself. Looking forward to portraying #DrManmohanSingh in #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister.:) pic.twitter.com/PsVdkpjZWY
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) June 7, 2017
The deliberate placement of the silhouette near Aupam's ear portrays the numerous layers that were perhaps behind the persona and the role of Singh, who was criticised for rarely being verbal and taking actions on his own.
Directed by debutant Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, the memoir by Baru is expected to hit the screens in December 2018, just ahead of the next general election in 2019.
Screenplay for the movie has been written by National Award winning director Hansal Mehta.
Besides Anupam, rest of the cast is yet to be decided.
Here’s what Tweeple had to say.
A silent film in 2017 sir? 😉 On a serious note, here's wishing you luck with it! I'm sure you will knock it out of the park!
— Akshaye Rathi (@akshayerathi) June 7, 2017
Must be very challenging to act without much dialogues and body movement in #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister
— Aima (@_AimA_) June 7, 2017
It's certainly going to be a challenge for a 'vocal' actor to perform a 'mute' role...! 😉
— Swami Nishchalanand (@Swamijitweets) June 7, 2017
Hope #theAccidentalPrimeMinister is as good as the last silent movie I saw, Pushpak.
— cantstandya (@nobodyschoice) June 7, 2017
MAKERS OF FILM ON MANMOHAN SINGH WILL NEED NOC FROM HIM, SONIA
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani is happy that Anupam Kher is stepping into the shoes of Manmohan Singh for a film, but says the movie's makers will need to obtain no-objection certificates (NOC) from the former Prime Minister himself as well as Congress President Sonia Gandhi for film certification.
Nihalani has warned that the film's makers would have to abide by the guideline regarding all films based on real-life characters.
"The makers of 'The Accidental Prime Minister', producer Sunil Bohra, would have to get an NOC from Manmohan Singhji, Sonia Gandhiji and all the other real-life politicians who are part of the narrative. This rule applies without fail. There are no exceptions," Nihalani said.
"And although my current tenure as the CBFC chairperson ends in January 2018 and this film will come up for censorship after that, I am sure the guidelines regarding biopics would remain unchanged."
He hopes the film's team is aware of this.
"Anupam Kher was himself the CBFC chairperson not too long so. Ashoke Pandit who considers himself a part of the CBFC, is also a part of the film on Manmohan Singhji. And Hansal Mehta who is writing the film, claims to be a victim of the censorship guidelines every time his film is on release. I can't imagine how these people cannot be awar of the NOC required for censor clearance of films based on real-life figures," Nihalani added.
When IANS contacted producer Sunil Bohra, he said he was travelling.
Nevertheless, Nihalani is confident Anupam Kher will give the role his best shot.
"He's such a versatile actor. At the age of 28, he had played an old man so brilliantly in 'Saaransh'. I am sure he will do full justice to Manmohan Singhji's character, though it would have to be more expressions than words. As we all know, Manmohan Singhji hardly speaks. I am sure the dialogue writer would not have much to contribute to the character," he added.
The project is an adaptation of Sanjay Baru's controversial book "The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh".
