‘Kher’s been mislead’

Producers ask actor Anupam Kher to reconsider playing Hitler.

After actor Anupam Kher opted out of his role as Hitler in Dear Friend Hitler, following pressure from fans, the film’s co-producer and scriptwriter Nalin Singh insists that misleading reports in the foreign press were responsible for his abrupt turnaround. He adds that Kher has been asked to reconsider his decision.

“Anupam has read the script and is aware that we are not glorifying the Nazi general. The hero of the film is Gandhi, whom Hitler had advised Lord Halifax to kill in 1938, along with other nationalist leaders, to stem the move for Independence,” informs Singh.

He points out that it was typical of Gandhi to address the man who wanted him dead as “Dear Friend” in the two letters he wrote to him, requesting him to put an end to the war. “In the second letter, he insisted that he objected to Nazism as strongly as he objected to British imperialism,” Singh argues.

He is upset with the international media for spreading misinformation without researching facts. “We’ve spoken to Anupam to re-think the project and are waiting for him to revert from the UK where he’s shooting,” says Singh.

He adds, “We have assured Jonathan Soloman, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation, that Hitler will not be glorified. He can contact us at any point and ask for a copy of the script.”

Sometimes human emotions are more important than cinema... that’s why I withdrew from Hitler film —Actor Anupam Kher asked fans on Twitter whether he should do the role, and decided not to accordingly.