Godse and Gandhi Anuj Saini, an actress, believes Alia Bhatt and Janhvi Kapoor are “extremely”.
Saini discusses the contentious aspects of his upcoming film Gandhi Aur Godse Ek Yudh, his personal history in the industry, and his experience working in advertisements with Janhvi Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.
Anuj Saini, recounts how anxious he was when he met the filmmaker for the first time in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times.
“It was at this point that Rajkumar first told the story of his film. So, when I first met Rajkumar Santoshi sir, I was scared since I was meeting a great filmmaker. I was thinking, ‘What should I say, how should I respond, and what shouldn’t I say?’ However, as soon as we sat down, he made me feel so at ease that I felt like I’d known him for 10 years. He treated me as though I were his son. After that, I was never afraid; he is now like family to me, a mentor and father figure in the professional”.
Rajkumar, according to Anuj, is very cool, quiet, and collected on set and understands precisely what he wants from his performers. “He will provide narration and instruct you on how and what to do. It becomes second nature to us since his narrative style is so distinct that even the most difficult moments seem trivial. He is obsessed with perfection. He is also really patients”.
The film also marks the debut of Rajkumar’s daughter Tunisha Santoshi who has been partnered against Anuj. When asked about working with the director’s daughter, he stated, “Tunisha Santoshi is there, but she was treated the same as everyone else” (on the sets). Nobody knew she was the director’s daughter. There was never a time when I was reminded of this.
“She is incredibly grounded, down-to-earth, and hardworking, and it did not appear like she was working on her first picture, he continued. She was treated the same way I was”.Godse and Gandhi Ek Yudh delves into the contentious argument between two opposing ideologies: Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse. The story takes place in a future where Gandhi survives Godse’s attack and visits him in jail to talk beliefs.
Asked if he was cautious of reaction or criticism, considering the sensitive issue of the film, Anuj responded, “When I heard the narration, (I realised that) the film will address a lot of questions concerning Godse and Gandhi. The film depicts facts rather than portraying a hero or a villain. It’s purely a content-driven picture. I was not at all dubious about the subject since I knew we were depicting facts. There were no second thoughts about seeing the movie
“It was tough since I wasn’t portraying a character from this age, but from 70 years ago,” Anuj said of his role in the film. Getting used to the way they spoke, their body language, and everything else was difficult. Thanks to seminars, rehearsals, and instruction from (Rajkumar) Santoshi sir, I was able to conquer the problem. It was a worthwhile experience that taught me a lot”.
“I’m not blaming, but it’s difficult”, he continued. This was the most difficult task I had to confront. Of course, I also learned that you must continue to work hard and improve your skill. It is impossible to hide talent.