‘Keep on living’ is the message in Mahesh Bhatt’s acting debut
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt says that he owes his debut acting turn in the film The Dark Side of Life: Mumbai City to director Tariq Khan, who he says is a “good human being”.
“He came to me with this role and insisted that I take it up. I have always supported new and honest talent, and Tariq is one such guy. I liked him immediately. He came straight to the point in a very simple manner,” says Bhatt.
“He explained to me the character of this Muslim father who lives alone, and his son lives in the US. He keeps a Hindu boy in his house as a tenant,” shares the veteran filmmaker, adding that Khan has treated the relationship very sensitively, “especially in a city where people reach the point of giving up on life and commit suicide”.
Slated to release in October, the movie, shares Bhatt, has a far-reaching message for such people: “Keep on living and struggling with life. I liked that message a lot because suicide is such a reality, [and] which society hasn’t dealt with. I think we are in danger from ourselves, so I liked this core.”
Bhatt also said yes to the role because he found it important to support brave filmmakers. “Suicide is 21st century’s self-generated disease. The dark side of human nature... This is a very unusual plot and handled beautifully... The filmmakers doesn’t make films like this, they just cannot get over the entertainment genre. So when someone comes up with a different kind of cinema, it is essential that we support him,” adds Bhatt.