Hansal Mehta opens up about the controversy surrounding The Accidental Prime Minister, clarifying his stance while addressing Anupam Kher’s accusations.
December 30, 2024: The ongoing feud between filmmaker Hansal Mehta and veteran actor Anupam Kher over their collaboration on The Accidental Prime Minister has taken a heated turn. In an interview with Times Now, Hansal Mehta addressed the accusations and clarified his stance on the controversy that has been making waves on social media.
The Origin of the Feud
The controversy began when journalist Vir Sanghvi criticized The Accidental Prime Minister, calling it one of the worst Hindi films and accusing it of tarnishing the image of Dr. Manmohan Singh. Hansal Mehta responded with a “+100” on X (formerly Twitter), which triggered Anupam Kher, who played the titular role in the film.
Also Read: Hansal Mehta, Anupam Kher Clash Over ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ on Twitter
Kher accused Mehta of hypocrisy, reminding him of his role as the Creative Director on the project and claiming he was present during the entire shoot in England.
Hansal Mehta Breaks His Silence
Responding to the backlash, Hansal Mehta shared the link to his interview on X, stating:
“Here is a very detailed response to Mr. @AnupamPKher and to those who still believe in reading. For those who choose to troll without purpose or with one – get well soon. I’m done here for now.”
Also Read: Hansal Mehta Criticises FFI After Laapataa Ladies Exits Oscars Race
Here is a very detailed response to Mr. @AnupamPKher and to those who still believe in reading. For those who choose to troll without purpose or with one – get well soon. I’m done here for now.
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 29, 2024
Hansal Mehta Responds To Anupam Kher’s Scathing Comments On The Accidental Prime…
During the interview, Hansal expressed his respect for Anupam Kher but questioned the actor’s approach:
“He is a senior, and his film Saaransh is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker; it changed something within me. He has every right to criticize me. However, considering the considerable amount of time he has spent with me, I expect at the very least that he refrains from making unfounded insinuations and engaging in name-calling.”
Also Read: Anupam Kher on ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’ Re-release: ‘I Just Can’t Stop Watching It’
Clarifying His Role in the Film
Hansal revealed that his involvement in the film stemmed from a sense of loyalty to the producer, who had supported his earlier project Shahid:
“I made a professional commitment to work on the film because the producer had supported my film, Shahid, during a time when I was struggling. I fulfilled that commitment to the best of my ability and within the limited capacity I was allowed by the film’s director and creative team.”
While he fulfilled his professional responsibilities, Hansal emphasized his right to have an opinion about the final product:
“While I stand by my commitment, I also stand by my opinion of what the film ultimately turned out to be.”
Anupam Kher’s Strong Reaction
Anupam Kher had previously tweeted:
“The HYPOCRITE in this thread is NOT @virsanghvi. But @mehtahansal was the #CreativeDirector of #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister. So for him to say 100% to #VirSanghvi’s comment is so messed up and full of double standards!”
Kher accused Mehta of attempting to earn “brownie points” and reminded him of their collaboration with photos and videos from the set.
Hansal’s Final Word
In response, Hansal maintained his stance, stating:
“Of course, I own 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 to. Can you deny that? But it doesn’t mean I have to keep defending the film or that it makes me lose objectivity about my error of judgment.”
He concluded with a pointed remark:
“About brownie points and hypocrisy, I respectfully submit that you seem to be evaluating people by the same yardstick you evaluate yourself.”
About The Accidental Prime Minister
Directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, the film starred Anupam Kher as Dr. Manmohan Singh, Akshaye Khanna as Sanjaya Baru, Suzanne Bernert as Sonia Gandhi, and Aahana Kumra as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
The debate surrounding the film continues to stir discussions online, with both sides firmly holding their ground.
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Hansal Mehta, Anupam Kher, The Accidental Prime Minister, Bollywood Controversies, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Film Industry Feuds, Viral Tweets, Bollywood News, Hansal Mehta Interview, Anupam Kher Response.
