B-8 | Friday, January 18, 2019 BOLLYWOOD www.WeeklyVoice.com The Making And Unmaking Of Manmohan Singh Film: “The Accidental Prime attempts to improve the PM’s im- Minister”; Director: Vijay Rat- age. The ilm is entertaining with nakar Gutte; Cast: Anupam Kher, relections of a documentary and Akshaye Khanna, Aahana Kum- no political agenda. Worth watch- ra, Suzanne Bernert and Arjun ing.” Mathur. All actors have been cast as The book “The Accidental real-life politicians or bureau- Prime Minister: The Making and crats and have been made to look Unmaking of Manmohan Singh” as much as the real-life person as by Sanjaya Baru was published possible, heightening the drama in 2014 and became an over- inherent in high Indian politics. night bestseller, especially after The only actor not doing an im- the PMO’s ofice rejected it as a personation is Akshaye Khanna. ‘work of iction’. Playing Sanjaya Baru, Akshaye Baru who was Media Advisor brings to the proceedings the nec- to Manmohan Singh from May essary gravitas. He is portrayed 2004 to August 2008 described it as the one honest oficial in an- of as a revelatory account of Singh’s ice illed with behind-the-scene irst term as head of the United players intent on pushing their Progressive Alliance Govern- own interests. ment. Baru sketched the mind of Akshaye and Anupam anchor a man of principles who failed to the plot superbly and their lair stand up to the political shenani- accept that the party president is as Sonia and shows her in the cuse that it is all coalition politics. and potential come through with gans of a small coterie of politi- the centre of power. The govern- worst light possible. Fearing that Kuldeep Sharma, President & ease, giving the ilm the validity cians, led by Ahmed Patel, in the ment is answerable to the party.” he may become independent, the CEO of Crown Group of Hotels, it needed to be classiied as the inner circle of the Congress presi- The ilm is not a political satire. family and friends create a Na- who was at the special screening true story of a dysfunctional lead- dent Sonia Gandhi. More in the style of a documen- tional Advisory Council to ‘give at Cineplex on Monday (January er, who had no real grasp over A ‘weak and spineless man’ tary, Anupam Kher essays the inputs to the PMO’ on whatever 14) says: “The movie showcas- politics or human nature. as he is described in the ilm,role of the then prime minister el- needs to be done. This becomes es the dynamics of how the party Baru said in an interview af- Manmohan Singh let himself be egantly, even mimicking the style a de facto, centre of power, con- core functions. Anupam Kher ter the book was condemned by manipulated and explained his of walk and the soft modulations trolled by the family. has chronicled the PM in a fairly Congress leaders that “most of meekness by saying everything of voice which Manmohan Singh There also is a scene in the ilm good manner who kept the family the book is positive [about the wss subservient to the interests of became famous for. when Manmohan Singh wants to above party. PM]” and that he wrote it mainly the party (read the family). He is shown as a scholar and resign in the wake of the numer- “This movie has made no at- because Singh “has become an In one of the scenes, Manmo- academician thrown into the are- ous scams when Sonia tells him: tempt to conceal any identity object of ridicule, not admiration. han Singh elaborates: “There na of politics and manipulated by “Rahul cannot take responsibility of the key players of that period. I am showing him as a human be- cannot be two centres of power, a scheming mother and son pair. at this juncture.” And Singh was Portrayal of Sanjaya Baru’s role ing, I want there to be empathy ...that creates confusion. I have to Suzanne Bernert is outstanding thrown under the bus with the ex- as the media advisor ampliies his for him.” ‘Simmba’ In List Of All-Time Hits When Sai Hated Her Mirror... NEW DELHI: Actress Sai Tamhankar had gained about 10 kg for a ilm and she says there were times when she hated looking in mirror. For the 2018 ilm “Love Sonia”, the Marathi actress, also known for her svelte igure, had to gain a good amount of weight. She said losing all that weight was not an easy task. “Nothing is easy. Life is not easy. The same amount of effort goes into losing weight as much as it goes into gaining weight. There were times when I used to hate looking in mirror. But it taught me one thing that you should love yourself irrespective of your shape or size,” Sai “hardcore action ilm”. Among various projects, she has Sachin Kundalkar’s MUMBAI:P Ranveer Singh starrer whole. told IANS. She is often labelled as hot “Simmba”, backed by Reliance Entertain- “It feels incredible to see the excitement and ravishing. Now, she wants to do a ilm titled “Pondicherry”. ment, Rohit Shetty Picturez and Dharma and fabulous response of the audience for Productions, has become the biggest Bolly- ‘Simmba’ in cinema halls everywhere. I am Sreesanth Wants Spielberg Film wood box ofice earner for all three produc- very happy with the appreciation the ilm is tion houses by collecting Rs 350 crore glob- garnering,” he said. MUMBAI: Former cricketer turned pen in life. I look at my life journey as a ally in 16 days since its release. Shibasish Sarkar, Reliance Entertainment, actor S. Sreesanth, who is trying to make miracle.” According to a statement from Reliance said: “’Simmba’ has received love from crit- his space in showbiz with reality televi- Explaining why, he said: “I was born Entertainment, “Simmba” has entered the ics and audiences alike, globally. We are sion shows and ilms, says he aspires to in a small village in Kerala. From there, I top 10 Bollywood ilms of all time in termsgrateful to our partners, Rohit and Karan Jo- work in a Hollywood movie with Steven went on to play for the Kerala state team of net domestic box ofice har, and new ‘superstar’ Ranveer, for creat- Spielberg. and international test cricket for India, Released on December 28, 2018, the ing a hugely entertaining ilm.” Does he have a wish list of ilmmakers and now I am working in TV shows and ilm features Ranveer as a policeman. WithKaran Johar said Dharma Productions is he wants to work with? cinema... Any miracle can happen. So “Simmba”, Rohit Shetty now holds a record proud and ecstatic with “Simmba”. “Rohit Sreesanth told IANS: “I want to work yes, working in a Hollywood movie with of having eight consecutive ilms to enter the Shetty is a mainstream maverick and look- with Steven Spielberg...whether it is a Spielberg would be ‘something’.” Rs 100 crore net domestic box ofice club. ing forward to many more with him and his small role or big in a Hollywood movie, Sreesanth has acted in the Richa Chad- Shetty, who is happy the ilm is “roaring lob- team.” The ilm also stars Sara Ali Khan, it will be a lifetime experience for me. It ha-starrer ilm “Cabaret”, produced by ally”, feels the success not only belongs to Sonu Sood, Siddharth Jadhav, Ashutosh will be a dream come true for me. And Pooja Bhatt and Bhushan Kumar, and di- him but also to fans and the fraternity as a Rana and Ajay Devgn. I always believe that anything can hap- rected by Kaustav Narayan Niyogi..