The Fuehrer’s Last Days

Most parts of the film have been shot in Delhi on a set that emulates a bunker. While Avijit Dutt plays Gandhi,actress Neha Dhupia portrays Braun’s character. Yadav explains that in order to play the part,he read through a few notes on Hitler’s last few days and watched footage of the leader. “It’s amazing how stone-faced he always was. I have attempted to play that out and other quirks,such as the manner in which he spoke or walked,” says Yadav.

He points out that violence and stubbornness weren’t the only attributes of Hitler’s emotional graph; there was probably a softer side to him too. “That’s the tricky part of my role. He was evil. But then,he married Eva 48 hours before the suicide,only because he didn’t want her to go down in history as his mistress. During his last few days,he probably experienced dilemma and a sense of failure too,” he says.

Incidentally,Yadav wasn’t the first choice for the part. Anupam Kher had been signed on but then opted out following protests by Jewish groups. Yadav says that he was told Kher’s dates were a problem. “I didn’t face any protests or threats,” he adds.

The actor admits that the recent boost to his career can be attributed to his acclaimed role in Peepli Live. “Due to problems regarding star-driven cinema,I had retreated into a shell. I stayed away from Mumbai for three years. But Peepli Live reminded the industry that I’m still alive and opened the doors for me,” he says.