IT’S SAMRAT PRITHVIRAJ IN THE HOUSE!
It was an afternoon of fun, candid and insightful conversations in Delhi when actors Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chhillar visited HT City’s Delhi office to meet the winners of the Stars In The City contest. Sounds of dhol, nagada, claps and loud cheer welcomed the actors as they stepped into a room full of fans, who were all fully vaccinated.
During a freewheeling chat with HT’s managing editor (entertainment) Sonal Kalra, Kumar revealed a personal reason behind choosing to do the film Samrat Prithviraj, which narrates the story of Hindu emperor Prithviraj Chauhan. “My son (Aarav) knows about the British Empire and the Mughals. But when I told him that I am doing a film on Prithviraj, he asked, ‘Who is he?’ It was such a sad day [for me] that he didn’t know about the ruler. I was taken aback. The story is not even there in history textbooks… Humari history 5,000 saal purani hai, and usmein se sirf 300 saal hi hain history books mein,” the 54-yearold said, adding, “I am not saying we need to remove chapters on the Mughals, but we need a balance. We have to talk about our rulers as well.” This is why he feels Samrat Prithviraj is really relevant in the current times.
Chhillar, who is making her Hindi film debut with the period drama, agreed and said, “He (Prithviraj Chauhan) stood up for equality, which women fight for even today. As a king, he set a big example for society. We all will learn from the film.”
Hailing from a “normal family” that has been far removed from the film industry, she said she is grateful to have worked with Kumar: “There is a lot to learn from him and I am happy that I am starting my career with someone like him, who has such professionalism and discipline.”
And where there is Kumar, there is fun. The actor brought his witty touch while answering questions from the winners. From declaring himself the “king of memes” to flaunting some classical dance moves to a song from the movie, he kept the entertainment quotient intact through and through.