13 March,2009 08:15 AM IST | | Subhash K Jha
Farhan Akhtar plays character based on Sudhir Mishra's grandfather, an ex-CM of Madhya Pradesh shades of a leader: Farhan Akhtar
In a film that Sudhir Mishra is directing for Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, the Rock On!! actor will be playing a character based on Sudhir's grandfather Dwarka Prasad Mishra Chief minister of Madhya Pradesh from 1962-67.
An inheritance
Mishra was described as Indira Gandhi's right-hand man. "It'su00a0 from my grandfather thatu00a0 I've inherited my strong politicalu00a0 ideology, evident to someu00a0 extent in Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi," says Sudhir.
Revealing his political antecedents and how he intends to put it on screen, Sudhir says, "Not too many people know my Nanaji (maternal grandfather) was the CM of MP. If I hadn't been a filmmaker I'd have probably been a politician.
I was greatly influenced by him and a lot of my political ideology is inherited from him. I had rejected the opportun-ity to take over my grand- father's career.
But now I feel far more comfortable with that side of my lineage So yes, I'm using several facets of his personality in my next film." The character that Farhan will play in his next film will have distinct shades of D P Mishra.
For a long time, the filmmaker wouldn't mention his illustrious CM-grandpa in his interviews. But now, the director has come to terms with his political past.
Sudhir would like to make very clear is that he is not doing Devdas for Farhan's company, "The Devdas idea and script remain withu00a0 Pritish Nandy Communications. We can make it as and when they like."
