Convincing Akshaye Khanna was the toughest part: Vijay Ratnakar Gutte

Director Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, who has chosen a sensitive film like The Accidental Prime Minister as his first film, reveals that the most challenging part was convincing Akshaye Khanna to be a part of this film. While Anupam Kher will play former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Akshaye Khanna will essay the role of Sanjaya Baru, former media advisor to the erstwhile PM and the writer of the book on which the film is based. “The most difficult part was to convince Akshaye to do the film. I had met a few actors earlier and had also finalized a big actor from South, but it was not working for me. When I met Akshaye I was sure that he was going to say no, but he was good to my writer and me,” Vijay says.

“We met the next day. Akshaye took the script, called it a brilliant script, then threw it on the table asking ‘what is in there for me’?” Vijay recalls, adding that the actor asked why we had even approached him. “He asked me, why to waste someone’s time?’ and I was taken aback,” he says. However, the director reveals he was adamant on not giving up and tried his best to convince the choosy actor.

He reveals, “He was okay playing a 49-year-old man, but his concern was what was there for him in the film. He however assured me that he was reconsidering the project. Then I enacted scenes for him for seven hours. He heard it patiently, and after the narration, just said, I am on for it’.”

The film is a biographical drama about the life and political career of former Prime Minister and Congress leader Dr Manmohan Singh.