AAMIR: VIEWERS WILL REMEMBER MY CHARACTER
The long-awaited Aamir Khan starrer period film 'The Rising' based on the life of Mangal Pandey, a great revolutionary in the first War of India's Independence, has been released. However, we are releasing the media chat with Aamir Khan who played the great revolutionary's hero in the movie. He blasts the myth created by the English rule that Mangal Pandey was a pioneer of the sepoy mutiny of 1857 and wasn't therefore a martyr. Excerpts of his chat: Will not the viewers watch it because of you playing Mangal Pandey? This is good. But remember that after quitting the theater hall, they will surely say that they have watched Mangal Pandey. If it so happens then I think the actor along with the movie will succeed. How long the viewers will take to forget Aamir and remember Pandey in the movie? I always try that the viewers remember my character and not me whey they are back home after watching my movie. I may also remind you that the viewers went to theaters to watch me in 'Lagaan', but they remembered Bhuvan, the character I had played. Even after watching 'Dil Chahta Hai' the viewers remembered Akaash, the movie's main character, and not me, after reaching their homes. I am sure that they will watch Mangal Pandey during their stay in theater halls and later remember him in their homes. Was Mangal Pandey a great martyr? Yes, Mangal Pandey has played an important role in our first war of independence. He is our hero. Those who are contesting his martyrdom probably believe in the gazette and documents recorded by the Englishmen then ruling India. Moreover, the British rulers described the 1857 War of Independence as the sepoy mutiny. We cannot accept it. This can be their perception. What's all about Mangal Pandey's story? The movie is not based on the story of Mangal Pandey alone. This combines the story of the two of his friends too. In fact, this is the story of friendship between an Indian sepoy and an English officer. Though I cannot vouchsafe the friendship [between Mangal Pandey and the English officer, but there are on record the stories about friendship between Indian and English people. We have added some such events in the story. How come you dominate all your films? This is a wrong notion in the minds of the people. Since I act in few films, the media talks to me about the movies involving me. This creates a wrong impression. How do you experience working with director Ketan Mehta? Ketan Mehta was director in our earlier film 'Holi' some twenty years ago. Then, I was a one out of twenty or so actor, working in that movie. So, we always maintained a distance from him. Now, Ketan Mehta has completely matured and he has attained a wider knowledge and perspective of the industry. I have a lot of respect for him as a filmmaker. What are your expectations from your viewers? I wish the viewers to remember the great martyr who laid his life for the freedom of our country. I wish they will remember the character of Mangal Pandey that I have played in 'The Rising'. |
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