'Let us talk politics'

Should it be made mandatory for an MLA or an MP to have a graduation degree? This was the argument that the Raajneeti team, including director Prakash Jha, actors Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor, Manoj Bajpai and screenplay writer Anjum Rajabali debated over with a select audience in the City, mainly comprising of students from IIMB.

As part of their promotional campaign, the team decided to get up close with the youth of today and discuss politics. Prakash Jha made it very clear that his film, though talks about politics, does not propagate any ideologies and promote any party. “Politics runs in all our veins. And the young should be aware of this fact,” he said. 

Answering questions about his film Raajneeti, director Prakash Jha said it took him six years to complete the film as he wanted to get a first hand feel of politics. So he contested elections but lost. “I knew I would lose but I did not stand with an intention of propagating my ideology. I wanted to work for my society for which I needed resources and thought this would be the fast way to reach my goals. Personally, I don’t think I can be a politician and if there is one thing I have learnt from my experience is that there is no place for number two in politics,” he added.

Actor Ranbir Kapoor said that that his ideal politician is Manmohan Singh. “I don’t think I am qualified enough to be a politician. I do exercise my right to vote, but I don’t have indepth knowledge. I have developed an interest now after doing Raajneeti,” he explained.

Actor Manoj Bajpai, who inherits the political legacy in the film, says that for him politics starts and ends with the newspaper.

“From where I come, reading the newspaper is mandatory for the young and the old. Politics is still a hot discussion in our place and gradually we got trained into what’s happening in our country. While the curiosity of it all is intriguing, it does not go beyond what the newspaper has to offer,” he said.

The otherwise glamourous Katrina had to strip her make-up and don simple cotton saris in the film. She says her real life inspiration has been Sonia Gandhi. “I am interested in politics but I fail to understand it. I want to do so much for the poor but don't understand how to go about it. I believe, to succeed in this field, one has to be gifted,” she added.