Not a Political Film: Producer Sandip Ssingh on Modi Biopic

Vivek Oberoi will be playing Narendra Modi.

A poster for the upcoming biopic on Modi featuring Vivek Oberoi.

(Photo: Yogen Shah)

Shortly before the release of Anupam Kher’s The Accidental Prime Minister, which explores the contentious relationship between former PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, news of a biopic on current Prime Minster Narendra Modi emerged.

The film will feature Vivek Anand Oberoi in the role of Modi and is being directed by Omung Kumar, whose credits include Mary Kom and Sarabjit, and produced by Suresh Oberoi and Sandip Ssingh.

In an interview with News 18, Ssingh revealed details about the film’s theme, its cast, and addressed the questionable timing of the announcement, which comes a few months before the general elections.

Producer Sandip Ssingh, Vivek Oberoi and director Omung Kumar with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis at the Modi biopic poster launch.(Photo: Yogen Shah)

Ssingh insisted that the film was a ‘human story’ and not politically motivated. He said:

“ It’s a story about a human, about achievement, simplicity, about a leader who inspires us, who thought that from a ‘chaiwala’ he can become the prime minister. We are telling a human story. The rest is on people how they take it. It’s not a political film. It’s an inspiring film. You will see a human, a brother, a son, a ‘karyakarta’, a ‘sevak’—all aspects of his life that make him who he is, will be included.”

Producer Ssingh on Modi biopic

He revealed that he and his team have been working on the film for three years and will begin shooting at the end of January.

When asked why he decided to cast Vivek Oberoi in the lead, he said, “I needed an actor who is passionate, crazy, has a good amount of experience, the calibre to pull off a responsibility as big as this and is also ready to dedicate two years of his life on just one film.” Justifying his decision to not opt for a bigger star such as one of the Khans, the producer said, “In today’s time, names don’t matter much. If they did, then Race 3, Thugs of Hindostan and Zero would have worked.”

Ssingh also addressed speculations that the biopic is politically motivated given that the announcement comes on the heels of the 2019 general elections.

“He [Narendra Modi] is such a big name that I don’t think he needs any film to promote him. He is already the world’s biggest brand. He doesn’t need us. We need the story. It is we who have decided the story and it is we who will make the film as we want with complete freedom. We are telling this story only to inspire the nation. It is not a propaganda film. It’s just a film on a story that has inspired me,” he maintained.

According to the producer, the film will trace Modi’s journey from childhood to becoming prime minister.

The poster for the film was launched by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on 7 January. Details of the rest of the cast as well as the film’s release date remain under wraps with Ssingh saying, “We are in no hurry to release it. All I want is to make a great film that I hope people will like. I am not concerned about the release date as long as the film is made properly. We haven’t set any timeline or deadline for this film yet.”

(With inputs from News18)