Ashutosh Rana to play Pramod Mahajan?

Actor essays role apparently modelled on slain telecom minister.

On March 25, Ashutosh Rana will step into the shoes of a character called Chandrakant Pandit for his forthcoming film called Monica — The Politics Of Murder. Chandrakant is a powerful minister involved in a telecom scam and gets an investigating journalist called Monica murdered. Produced by Lucknow-based Congress leader Kush Bhargava, the film is partly a work of fiction, and partly based on facts. Insiders suggest Ashutosh’s character is partially inspired by the life of slain BJP leader Pramod Mahajan.

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But the actor denies any connection: “My character draws inspiration from no one in particular. The story is based on political games played for power. I’m playing a minister who’s corrupt and evil, but he’s subtle and very underplayed. Resemblance to anyone is coincidental, although I know for sure that I’m not playing a character that has been modelled on any politician dead or alive.”

The film is due to hit theatres towards the end of the on-going World Cup. While several big projects have moved around their release dates to after the tournament, Ashutosh is confident of his humble-budgeted movie. “Tanu Weds Manu came just a few days after the World Cup started and it is still making money,” points out Ashutosh. “If a film is good, the only competition it has is from a match that India plays. That applies to Monica too."