Anupam Kher impresses Narendra Modi with 'A Wednesday'

Mumbai, Aug 27 (IANS) Veteran actor Anupam Kher held a special screening of his forthcoming film 'A Wednesday' for Narendra Modi. And the Gujarat chief minister seemed impressed with the movie based on the 2006 Mumbai serial train bombings.

The film by debutant director Neeraj Pandey was screened for Modi in Ahmedabad Saturday.

'When 'A Wednesday', which addresses itself to an issue that's close to Mr. Modi as a politician, was ready, I wanted him to watch it. I called him and requested him to do so.

'Mr Modi's counter-request was, 'Tell me the story in two lines'. I told him. He immediately agreed. Then his staff got into action and a date was set,' Anupam told IANS.

The actor said he was more than happy with Modi's response.

'It (the screening) went off fabulously. Let me tell you, media perceptions of Mr. Modi are completely wrong. He is misunderstood because he is outspoken. He is a politician destined for very big things. The good thing was he came with no prejudices and he brought his entire ministry and government machinery with him,' Anupam said.

He now hopes that 'A Wednesday', which releases Sep 5, will get a tax exemption in Gujarat.

'It's very important for us actors to come forward and help a film that's done with sincerity of purpose and has got a message behind it,' said Anupam, who has teamed up with actor Naseeruddin Shah in the film after 12 years.

Anupam has another sensitive film that releases on the same day - Santosh Sivan's 'Tahaan'.

' 'Tahaan' is a Kashmiri fable. It's got some interesting actors. But the best performances come from child actor Purav Bhandare and then the donkey who plays his companion. All others in the cast have to take a backseat to the duo.'

A week before 'A Wednesday' and 'Tahaan', Anupam will be seen in Ekta Kapoor's 'C Kkompany' as a loser who decides to get together with two like-minded people to form an extortion trio.

'My three films in two weeks offer me a chance to play completely different characters,' said Anupam during the shooting of his new film 'Adhaar', in which he plays a man accused of murdering his wife.

Model Tina Desai plays his daughter.

'There's so much new talent and appreciation for them. Sachin Yardi, who has directed 'C Kkompany', and Neeraj Pandey, who has directed 'A Wednesday', will be major names after their films release,' the veteran actor predicted.