Excited to begin promotions for PM Narendra Modi anew, Vivek Oberoi opens the conversation with, "On May 23, Modi ji comes back [as the Prime Minister] and the next day, Modi ji is back in theatres." One would assume he is pleased with the timing of the release of the biopic. However, Oberoi - whose film's release during the seven-phase polling in India was stalled by the Election Commission (EC) as it violated the Model Code of Conduct - says the past few weeks have been testing. "It was a major setback. The film was releasing in 40 countries. Distributors in America and UK were confused."

He minces no words as he says that he saw little sense in the EC's decision. "It was stemming from fear. There are commercials on Congress as well. By that logic, editorial columns should stop. The Election Commission should have put a blanket ban on news material because that can influence voters, too. Clamping down on free speech [marks a] downward slope for a healthy democracy," philosophises Oberoi, the irony seemingly lost on him.