Published 16:29 IST, November 2nd 2019
Saand Ki Aankh: Anupam Kher backs Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar in row
As a row erupted over 'Saand Ki Aankh' leads Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar playing older characters, Anupam Kher said it was an actor's job to do all roles.
Can actors not play characters older or younger to them? A row erupted over Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar playing characters much older to them in Saand Ki Aankh. Even celebrities like Neena Gupta and Soni Razdan had reacted to the issue, expressing that roles of their age should have at least been offered to them. However, Anupam Kher has come out in support of the lead actors over the row, saying the actors were being unfairly criticised and that the actor should be able to take up any role that comes their way. The A Wednesday star also disagreed with Neena Gupta and Soni Razdan’s views on the issue.
In a recent interview with a media agency, Anupam Kher said that the criticism over the age-related issue was ‘wrong’, and that he did not find any logic in it. He also asked why the ‘talented actresses’ were being criticised, and that he is proud for Taapsee and Bhumi for playing these roles, though he had not seen the movie yet. The veteran gave his own example that he had played the role of a 65-year-old when he was in his 20s, referring to his debut, Mahesh Bhatt’s Saaransh and that he was appreciated for his performance. Kher also expressed that an actor’s job was to challenge oneself by going out of the comfort zone, and also said that acting was all about accepting whatever roles that were offered to them.
After Saand Ki Aankh trailer had come out, Neena Gupta had tweeted, “Yes i was just thinking about this hamari umar ke role toe kamsekam humse kara lo bhai.” Even Soni Razdan had then stated that it didn’t make any sense to make a film on 60-year-olds when they weren’t approaching the real 60-year-olds. However, Taapsee Pannu had hit back with a strong post citing other examples.
Kher said that Soni Razdan and Neena Gupta are his friends, having worked with them many times, and that he was at a liberty to share that they were wrong to think in this manner. He added that the argument of elderly characters should be played by only a senior actor did not 'make any sense.' The 64-year-old also gave the example of The Nutty Professor, and how people would then say that Eddie Murphy shouldn't have played the role of an overweight person in it.
Saand Ki Aankh
Saand Ki Aankh is the story of real-life over 60 year olds sharpshooters Chandro Tomar and Prakashi Tomar. The movie released on Diwali and received positive responses. It did decent business at the box office too, earning over Rs 10 crore in the first week.
Updated 16:42 IST, November 2nd 2019