Concept of India Didn’t Exist Till the British: Saif on ‘Tanhaji’

Tanhaji has come under scanner for its historical inaccuracies.

Saif Ali Khan starred in Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero, which came under the scanner for historical inaccuracies. 

(Photo: IANS)

Saif Ali Khan, who recently starred in Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero as Rajput forkeeper Udaybhan Singh Rathore, opened up about the politics of the film, in an interview to film critic Anupama Chopra. The actor admitted that he didn’t have a problem with the politics "as an actor”, but he does “as an individual”.

“I was very excited to play the role because its a delicious role. But when people say this is history. I don’t think this is history. I am quite aware of what the history was,” said Saif, who is a known history buff.

The Ajay Devgn-led film’s politics has been a point of debate among experts for projecting the idea of an independent India or Swaraj as early as the 17th century.

“I don’t think there was a concept of India till perhaps the British gave it one. So there’s many things. I don’t think there is really any constructive point in arguing about loudly, provided you yourself know why you’re doing it.”

Saif Ali Khan

He went on to add that those who claim the history shown in films like Tanhaji to be correct they would be corrected if they spoke of this internationally.

“History would be in the realm of the intelligent. Someone being taught that in school today should not quote it internationally. They will be corrected and told that they are wrong,” he said in the interview.

Saif Ali Khan in a still from Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.(Photo Courtesy: Pinterest)

Talking about why the film industry was making films with altered politics, he said, that people (in the industry) say that “this is what runs”.

“I would really like to a part of a film industry that would take a stand that wouldn't make mass kind of films like that. Films that would rather say ‘hey this is what history is’ rather than mould it to certain kind of belief.”

“But people say that is what runs and that’s what’s given it the extra kind of bump, I mean it’s more than just action movie. There’s an idea there that that seems to have caught on, but certainly a dangerous idea.”

Saif Ali Khan, actor