Hansal Mehta on Anupam Kher’s scathing comments, The Accidental Prime Minister controversy: ‘Vitriol spread in the name of…’

It started with a post by journalist Vir Sanghvi, who called out the biopic as a film ‘full of lies’ and it was endorsed by Hansal. This didn’t go down well with Anupam, who questioned the authenticity of the filmmaker. Hansal, in a detailed interview to Times Now, shared his response to the controversy.

Hansal revealed that he joined the project to homour a commitment made to the producer, who had earlier backed his film, Shahid. Not stepping away from his criticism about the film, Hansal reiterated that he worked within the limited capacity provided by the film’s director and creative team, but it was a chapter that he left behind in his life. “It is unfortunate that my words shifted focus away from what was meant to be a somber reflection on my error in judgment and instead lead to abusive trolling,” said Hansal.

Clarifying his stance on the film, and Anupam, who played the titular character, Hansal said that it is completely okay for both to be critical of each other’s opinion. Talking about withholding his criticism about the film during its release, Hansal said that it wouldn’t have been right for the scores of people attached to the film. Even now, he argued, that he responded only because of the passing of the former prime minister.

Expressing his admiration for Anupam, and how the actor’s debut film, Saaransh, is a reason why he became a filmmaker, Hansal said he’d have preferred if the veteran didn’t resolve to ‘unfounded insinuations and name-calling’. He asserted that his apology for ‘inadvertently hurting him’ isn’t a sign of weakness or him stepping down from his stance. “Instead of respecting my dignified stand, he chooses to rake up old tweets, call me names, insinuate hidden agenda, etc…I believe the filmmakers consider it an exceptional film that achieved their objectives and was financially successful,” pointed out Hansal.

Delving deeper into things that went wrong with the film, Hansal shared that he didn’t like the pacing, tone, execution, and the one-dimensional outlook. “I helped with the casting and managing the set, but beyond a point, the debutant director Vijay Gutte didn’t seek my perspective or interpretation, and that is entirely acceptable to me,” said Hansal, adding that he was properly compensated for his commitments to the film.

Giving more insight into his conditions that made him accept working on the film, Hansal said that he was just teetering from the financial loss of Simran, suffered a health setback, and was part of litigation and debt. Adding that he accepted the film because of these constraints, and a commitment to the producer, who is still a friend, Hansal said, “I joined the film, and recommended Amit Masurkar as a writer. The film, as it was initially envisioned on paper, and what it ultimately became, were quire different. Does it mean one should walk away? I chose to stay.” He added that if the circumstances were different, especially with his younger son also in a critical state in the same hospital as him, he might have made a different choice.

Not wanting to discuss any hypothetical arguments, Hansal asserted that his acknowledgement about an error in judgment is all he can offer. Signing off with his opinion on celebrating people only after their deaths, Hansal called out the ‘vitriol spread in the name of nationalism and pursuit of attention.’ Recollecting the deaths of Zakir Hussain, and Shyam Benegal also, Hansal said that their legacies must be honoured instead of defiling them with negativity. “It is imperative that we come together to honour their memories and contributions, setting aside divisive rhetoric and focussing on the positive impact they had on our nation and the world,” signed off Hansal.

Sharing this interview, Hansal wrote, Here is a very detailed response to Mr. Anupam Kher, and to those who still believe in reading. For those who choose to troll without purpose or with one – get well soon. I’m done here for now.”

Here’s the post:

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On the work front, Hansal, who recently made the Kareena Kapoor-starrer The Buckingham Murders, is currently working on the television series, Gandhi, based on the life of the Mahatma, and Ramachandra Guha’s books Gandhi Before India, and Gandhi: The Years that changed the World.

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