Anupam Kher’s The Accidental Prime Minster featuring the actor as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will release in Pakistan today. The release comes a month late after the originally scheduled date of January 18.
The movie, an alleged representation of the dynasty politics prevalent in the Congress Party received clearance from the Pakistani Censor Board last month. The producer, Jayantilal Gada who produced the film under the banner of PEN Studios, issued a statement to announce the news.
“Our one-of-a-kind political film, The Accidental Prime Minister, has got a green signal from our neighbouring country, Pakistan. Pakistani moviegoers will be able to enjoy the film as it is set to release there. I always admired Imran Khan as a brave cricketer, and now I respect him as a Prime Minister, too. I’m also thankful to Pakistan’s Censor Board chairman for approving our film,” said the producer according to TNIE.
Based on the 2014 book of the same name by Sanjay Baru, The Accidental Prime Minister stars Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh and Akshaye Khanna as his advisor Sanjay Baru. It is directed by Vijay Gutte. According to Baru, the book was his attempt to humanize Singh, who for most people was a puppet in the arms of his party cadre.
Following the release of the trailer, the Congress party has already been up in arms citing “incorrect presentation of the facts.” Maharashtra Youth Congress had even demanded a screening of the movie prior to its release.
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The movie performed dismally at the box office and was panned by critics and the audiences alike. The actors including Kher were criticized for their caricature-ish portrayal of several Congress leaders including Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi. An FIR was lodged by the Muzaffarpur Police against Anupam Kher and Akshay Khanna and 12 others including the producer and the director, under a district court’s direction. According to Times Now, the complainant, advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha alleged that public figures were portrayed in a poor light.