'Bhonsle' addresses relevant issue of locals vs migrants'

 Actor Maj Bajpayee believes re is hardly any country that isn't witnessing tension between locals and migrants, an issue which his latest drama "Bhonsle" aims to dress.

Set in Mumbai, Devashish Makhija-directed feature narrates story of a retired police constable, played by Bajpayee, who tries to help migrants fight against local politicians.

Bajpayee said film offers a powerful, running commentary about all things societal: from prevalent religious divide to discrimination on basis of region and crimes against women.

" film talks about system, society which is so deeply divided on lines of region and religion. It talks about safety of women, loneliness, and post-retirement situation of old people. It also talks about universally prevalent migrant issue.

" clash between locals and migrants, complete mistrust between both. It talks about so many things, in end you have to find your own learning from it," Bajpayee told PTI in an interview.

actor said "Bhonsle" aims to delve deeper into this divide by examining why people behave way y do.

"I can't think of any country which isn't facing this crisis. That's why film becomes so relevant. It talks about what are expectations of migrants and locals from each or, ir problems and where y're getting divided.

"It's so important to look into each one's mind, reasoning, logic... It's a difficult time for humanity. It'll pass. But 'Bhonsle' will be kwn as testimony of times," he ded.

"Bhonsle" premiered at Busan International Film Festival in 2018 and travelled to several festivals before finally finding a platform for release on Sony LIV, where it is currently streaming.

For his portrayal of Ganpat Bhonsle, Bajpayee bagged his second best actor trophy at Asia Pacific Screen Awards in 2019, three years after winning award for biographical drama "Aligarh".

actor said through titular character in "Bhonsle", his effort was to showcase a fragile man, a has-been who crawls out of his reclusiveness when issues around him force him to step up.

"Bhonsle is a man, who wasn't looking forward to his retirement. He h body to go back to. He somehow felt that duty is all what was left for him in life.

"He is locked down by choice. He doesn't want any intrusion but finds purpose in life when chaos in society push him out."

"Bhonsle" is one of many on-screen exploration of Marathi men by Bajpayee, who moved to Mumbai from Bihar in early 1990s to pursue his acting dreams.

Director Ram Gopal Varma's 1998 cult film "Satya" was first time actor played a Maharashtrian character, Mumbai gangster Bhiku Mhatre which won him acclaim and even his first National Award.

Eighteen years later, Bajpayee embodied a vulnerable, lonely professor Ramchandra Siras who faces discrimination because of sexuality in Hansal Mehta's "Aligarh".

For Bajpayee, more than getting a character's accent or body langu right, it is "internal issue" which matter most.

" Maharashtrian accent that my characters in films like 'Satya', 'Aligarh' or 'Bhonsle' have is according to strata y come from, ir education background, and society y live in. All se are factors which decide kind of accent y will have.

"In Maharashtra, re are too many ways in which Marathi is spoken. Each strata speaks same langu in a different fashion. So you have to give your interpretation to it and that's why se Maharashtrian characters look different from each or," he ded.