The Asian Age

‘ ACTORS SHOULD MAKE SOCIAL FILMS ENTERTAINI­NG’

THE ACTOR’S BATTI GUL METER CHALU IS SLATED FOR RELEASE NEXT MONTH

- UMA RAMASUBRAM­ANIAN

Actor Shahid Kapoor, whose upcoming film Batti Gul Meter

Chalu carries a social message, believes that socially- relevant films should be made entertaini­ng so that they reach a wider audience.

“I have done socially- relevant films like Haider and Udta Punjab in the past. This is third such film; it addresses an issue that people in the country are going through today. I must say, the love that I got from people when I did those last two films was overwhelmi­ng,” Shahid says, adding, “I think making films about social issues is good for the society and the country. But at the same time, we’re not making documentar­ies, because those won’t reach anyone. A socially- relevant film needs to be made entertaini­ng, for which you need mainstream actors, so that it reaches more people.”

Shot in

Uttarakhan­d, Batti Gul Meter Chalu is a comedy- drama about a man’s fight against the injustice meted out by the electricit­y department. Apart from Shahid, the film also features Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam, and it is slated to release on September 21.

As he awaits the release of the film, Shahid couldn’t be more proud of his younger brother Ishaan Khatter, whose film Dhadak has done wonders at the box office. Ask the actor why he was nowhere to be seen during the promotions and celebratio­ns, and he says, “I wasn’t invited. I messaged Ishaan today after seeing some afterparty pictures, and he said he wasn’t sure if he wanted to invite anybody.”

“I would like to say that Ishaan is such a good actor that he doesn’t need my support. He is fine without me,” Shahid adds.

“I think making films about social issues is good for society and the country” — SHAHID KAPOOR

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