Anupam Kher Criticizes Hansal Mehta’s Comments on film The Accidental Prime Minister

Anupam Kher, who portrayed Manmohan Singh in the 2019 film The Accidental Prime Minister, expressed disappointment over Hansal Mehta’s supportive response to a negative tweet about the film. Kher, who considers the film one of his best works, believes that Mehta, as the film’s Creative Director, should not have criticized it after being involved in its production. Actor Anupam Kher, known for his portrayal of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the 2019 film The Accidental Prime Minister, has voiced dismay over the film’s Creative Director Hansal Mehta’s latest comments on social media. Kher, while standing by the movie, criticized Mehta for supporting negative opinions about the project. The controversy began when journalist Vir Sanghvi tweeted that the film was “one of the worst Hindi movies ever made” and accused it of tarnishing Singh’s image. Mehta replied with “+100,” signaling agreement, which didn’t sit well with Kher. In an exclusive conversation with HtCity, Kher argued that Mehta, as the Creative Director, had a professional obligation to support the film, regardless of its reception. “You were paid for your work and spent 35 days on the project. Whether the ship sinks or not, you cannot abandon it. You must own your work,” Kher stated. Sanghvi’s tweet read, “If you want to remember the lies told about Manmohan Singh, you should rewatch The Accidental Prime Minister. It’s not only one of the worst Hindi movies ever made but also an example of how the media was used to tarnish the name of a good man.” Kher questioned Mehta’s decision to support such criticism, suggesting Mehta should have addressed any concerns during production. “If you felt something wasn’t working, you could have spoken up or even stepped away. You were involved from the initial stage, and after watching the final product, you congratulated the team,” Kher added, referring to himself, Akshaye Khanna, and the director. Despite disagreeing with Sanghvi’s views, Kher reaffirmed his belief in the film, calling it “beautifully made” and one of his best performances. He highlighted the inappropriateness of revisiting such criticism now, particularly when it concerns the legacy of Manmohan Singh, who contributed greatly to India’s economy. “Everyone has the right to critique a film, but to resurface this years later and use it to criticize a tribute to Singh feels disrespectful,” Kher concluded.