MUMBAI: A political drama based on the book that was written by Sanjaya Baru, The Accidental Prime Minister stars Anupam Kher as Dr. Manmohan Singh, and features an ensemble cast comprising of Akshaye Khanna, Suzanne Bernert, Aahana Kumra, Arjun Mathur and Divya Seth Shah in crucial roles. The movie is the directorial debut of Vijay Ratankar Gutta and is set to air for the first time on television on &pictures, Naye India Ka Blockbuster Movie Channel. The World Television Premiere of The Accidental Prime Minister will be on Saturday, June 8th at 8pm.
Anupam Kher stated, “I have never worked so hard for any character as I did for this film. It took me about 6 - 7 months to get into the character because Dr. Manmohan Singh is not somebody who happened in the black and white era. He is very much alive and more so present on everybody’s psyche. Getting his correct voice alone took me about 3 months because Dr. Manmohan Singh is not expressive at all. You have never seen any of his stills where he is laughing or angry or depicting any such evident emotion. The role was challenging as I had to not only do justice to him but also convey the message to the audience.”
Speaking about her preparation for the role, Aahana Kumra who plays Priyanka Gandhi said, "When they put me in a saree and gave me a hair switch, I realized I could resemble Priyanka Gandhi. To do justice to the role, I read whatever material I could find and watched as many videos of her rallies and interviews. But since there wasn't much available, I would simultaneously watch Mrs Indira Gandhi’s interviews and videos because their mannerisms are the same. I was expected to portray a person who has a legacy, one that is unforgettable. After all the research and being a part of the cast of The Accidental Prime Minister, I can confidently say that there's a reason why Mrs Indira Gandhi is called the Iron Lady. "
The Accidental Prime Minister chronicles former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s (Anupam Kher) relationship with his media advisor Sanjaya Baru (Akshaye Khanna). While the film focuses largely on how Baru struggled with managing Dr. Singh’s public image, it also touches upon United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s key milestones, like the Indo-US nuclear deal and Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s undisputed authority within the party.
