You have said that playing Manmohan Singh in The Accidental Prime Minister was one of the most important roles of your career.
When I was first approached for the role of Manmohan Singh, I said no. It was difficult to portray him for two reasons: one, he was the prime minister of this era... everybody knew him. As an actor, you can get exposed if you do not portray him really well. If you are portraying Gandhi or Churchill, you do not really know how they talked, read or gave a speech. Manmohan Singh, on the other hand, is there in people’s memories. And that was why it has been the most difficult role of my career. I wanted to be absolutely brilliant as him.
He may not have agreed with the content of the book [on him]. That is a separate issue. My reference point for the role was the book. But even in that, I have portrayed him with utmost sincerity and honesty. I have not tried to caricature him at all.
At the end of the book, Manmohan Singh seems to be the fall guy, someone with whom you sympathise.... The fall guy you have read about might become the leader after the film. You cannot take away what he has done for the country. But even the greatest of people have their weaknesses. We can make a film in which a man can become the hero even if we are taking up certain points that reflect his weaknesses.
You have also said that you did not make an effort to meet him. Why?
First, I did not know how to approach him. Also, as an actor, there would have been pressure on me after I met him, because I would have unknowingly noticed things... and tried to incorporate that. But, after working on this character for four to five months, I realised that I have never researched any of the others so much. I could have done my job easily by focusing on the external aspects, but I have internalised the character.
You are a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Did it ever bother you that you were playing Singh based on a book that does not paint a positive picture of him and his party?
As an actor, I never thought like that. It is my job and I recognised the challenge. You do not get such opportunities [every day]. I have done thousands of characters, but look at the curiosity this [film] has generated.... My being a staunch supporter of PM Modi did not stop me from portraying Manmohan Singh with sincerity. Even when, as a citizen of the country, I did criticise Dr Singh [during his term], I think that criticism was not just mine but that was [the sentiment] among so many people. People like me get opportunities to talk about possibilities or points of view. That is not the issue. There is a book of which the producers have the rights, there is the material I have, and I am not saying that Sanjaya Baru has written something that is not official. If a film brings out a certain amount of sympathy or genuineness for Dr Manmohan Singh, [it is] because Sanjaya Baru wanted it.
Do you have plans to join politics?
I may have a point of view, but I have no intention of joining politics. If, however, after three to four years, I get an opportunity for something [I don’t know how I will take it]. But, currently, I have no intention.
Mahesh Bhatt tweeted about your journey from Saraansh (1984) to New Amsterdam (2018). You have done more than 500 films in 30 years. How would you sum up your journey so far?
Five hundred and sixty films. I do not want to sum it up because I do not want to go mad over the kind of journey that I have had, thinking, ‘Wow, from Shimla to here’. I have a great sense of wonder about it because I remember my background and where I lived while growing up. From there to talking with you right now from my 30th floor apartment in New York... has been a great journey. It is God’s blessing. I feel a great sense of joy and satisfaction.
Tell us about the time you used to read translations of English classics while studying in a Hindi medium school.
We do not read as many books now, but they play a very important role. At least, [they have] in my life. Not just because I gained knowledge, but also [because they] kept me from the misery of life. Cinema, too, does that. But with books, you make your own world. With cinema, you see someone else’s.