Anupam Kher will play Manmohan Singh in the cinematic adaptation of the book The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh, reported the Economic Times. Anupam Kher told the outlet that he was looking forward to the role.
Kher said, “Acting the role of anyone in contemporary history is extremely challenging, as comparisons are bound to be instant and inevitable. But as I have always revelled in challenges, right from my first film Saaransh, I look forward to the experience of portraying PM Manmohan Singh.”
The book was written by Sanjaya Baru. Sanjaya Baru worked at the Prime Minister’s Office between 2004 and 2008. In his book, reports Scroll, Baru makes the claim that Manmohan Singh was repeatedly hampered by interference from Indian National Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi.
The film will be directed by debutante director Vijay Ratnakar Gutte. Gutte told the outlet, “A script as magnanimously relevant as this needed a perfect actor. I feel that the depth of maturity and demeanour required to portray the prime minister could have only been embodied by the versatile veteran, Anupam sir.”
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The Accidental Prime Minister will be produced by Sunil Bohra, based on a script adapted to the screen by Hansal Mehta. Bohra said, “The research on the movie is already over. Auditioning (for the remaining cast) is in its final lap. The movie will hit the screens next year.” The film is likely to release just ahead of the 2019 general elections in India.
Given that Anupam Kher has been very critical of the previous UPA government led by Manmohan Singh, and is also a vocal supporter of the current NDA government led by Narendra Modi, this casting move has come as a surprise to many. As there has been no announcement on the remaining cast or crew, there has been much hype on who would play Sonia Gandhi in the film.