New Delhi: A war of words broke out between veteran actors Anupam Kher and Hansal Mehta over their film “The Accidental Prime Minister” after the filmmaker agreed with a journalist that the 2019 political drama about former PM Manmohan Singh was full of “lies”. Was full.
Singh, the architect of India’s economic reforms, died on Thursday night at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi at the age of 92. He served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014.
It all started with a post by senior journalist Veer Sanghvi, who on Friday termed “The Accidental Prime Minister” as “one of the worst Hindi films ever made”, based on the memoir of Singh’s former media adviser Sanjay Baru. Was.
Featuring Kher as former Prime Minister Singh and actor Akshaye Khanna as Baru, the film was directed by Vijay Gutte and depicts political events and decisions during Singh’s leadership, including his challenges as Prime Minister. And the focus was on the influence of the Congress Party on his administration.
“If you want to remember the lies told about Manmohan Singh, you should watch ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ again. Not only is it one of the worst Hindi films ever made, it is an example of How the media was used to tarnish the name of a good man,” Sanghvi wrote on X.
If you want to remember the lies told about Manmohan Singh, you should watch The Accidental Prime Minister again
Not only is it one of the worst Hindi films ever made, but it is an example of how the media was used to tarnish the name of a good man. pic.twitter.com/p3Fxt8Evom– Vir Sanghvi (@virsanghvi) 27 December 2024
Mehta, 56, shared Sanghvi’s post and captioned it, “+100.”
+100 https://t.co/e93gJcfb3N– Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) 27 December 2024
In an earlier post, the filmmaker had condoled Singh’s demise and said the nation should apologize to him.
“More than anyone else, I am indebted to him. Whatever the compulsion or intention, it is a regret I will carry with a very heavy heart. Sorry sir. I am deeply indebted to you for your achievements as an economist, finance minister and Prime Minister. Besides, you were, Mehta had posted, an honorable man – a rare gentleman in a profession dominated by goons.
The nation should apologize to him. More than anyone else, I am indebted to him. Whatever the compulsion or intention, it is a regret I will bear with a very heavy heart. Sorry sir.
Apart from your achievements as an economist, finance minister and prime minister, you are also a respected… pic.twitter.com/hJRRU2jGUL– Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) 27 December 2024
However, Mehta’s support of Sanghvi’s post angered Kher, who called the filmmaker a “hypocrite”. He also revealed that Mehta served as the creative director of the film.
“The hypocrite in this thread is not @virsanghvi. He has the freedom to not like a film. But @mehtahansal was the #CreativeDirector of #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister. Who was present during the entire shooting of the film in England! Giving his creative inputs and Fees will also be charged for this.
“So for them to say 100% on #VirSanghvi’s comment is very messed up and full of double standards!” the 69-year-old actor wrote.
Kher said that although he does not agree with Sanghvi’s opinion, he believes that artists are “capable of doing bad or indifferent work”.
“But we should own it. It’s not like #HansalMehta is trying to make some money from a certain section of people. Common Hansal!! Grow up! I still have all our videos and pictures from the shoot! ” He added.
There is no hypocrisy in this thread @VeersanghviThey have the freedom not to like any film. But @mehtahansal Was #creative director Of #The Accidental Prime MinisterWho was present during the entire shooting of the film in England! You are giving your creative input and may have also taken fees… https://t.co/tkr3H1ChyX– Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) 27 December 2024
Additionally, Kher dug into Mehta’s old posts where the filmmaker had congratulated him and Khanna as well as Gutte for their work in the film. While sharing the post he wrote, “Without any comment.”
Without any comment! https://t.co/cVwvOS9sf1– Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) 27 December 2024
Mehta, who played a small role as former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in “The Accidental Prime Minister”, responded by saying that he always accepts his mistakes.
“And I can admit that I made a mistake. Can’t I, sir? I did my job as professionally as I was allowed to. Can you deny that? But that doesn’t mean I deserve the film. Have to keep getting defensive or that it causes me to lose objectivity about my error of judgment.
He said, “Regarding the ridiculousness and hypocrisy, I want to respectfully say that you are evaluating people by the same yardstick on which you evaluate yourself.”
Of course I own up to my mistakes, Mr. Kher. And I can admit that I made a mistake. Can’t I sir? I did my job as professionally as I was allowed. Can you deny it? But that doesn’t mean I have to keep defending the film or it will make me lose my objectivity regarding my error of judgement.… https://t.co/UIgc4Pdvww– Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) 27 December 2024
In another post, the director apologized to the actor for inadvertently hurting him and said that he can clarify the situation with Kher at any appropriate time.
and by the way @anupampkher Sir… you can say whatever you want. Call me by name if you want. I apologize if I have inadvertently hurt you. Sending you love. Whenever you want, we will speak and clarify the situation. I will not give space to trolls to distort this further and have a field day… https://t.co/UIgc4PcXGY– Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) 27 December 2024
“Sending you love. We will speak whenever you want and clear the air. I will not give space to trolls to distort this further and have a field day at our expense. Good night, merry belated Christmas and new Happy New Year in advance to you and all the hyperactive trolls,” Mehta said.
