Q&A WITH ABHAY DEOL

Much like the character he plays in a new series about the 1962 Indo-China War, an outspoken Abhay Deol has spent his career trying to survive against the odds

Q. We have seen multiple war dramas, but the 1962 Indo-China war had remained largely untouched...

We don’t delve into the China war because we lost. We tend to highlight battles we won. I don’t think there are any winners in war, but in the name of territory, there are. With 1962: The War in the Hills, we focus on the one battle we won and celebrate that.

Q. War narratives also tend to be laden with jingoism. Does this Disney+ Hotstar series veer into that territory? Mahesh [Manjrekar, director] is pretty sensitive to jingoism. I am anti-war. I wouldn’t do something that’s pro-war. What sets this apart is that it focuses on the soldiers’ families and the impact that war has on the social fabric. It is empathetic, not just towards the heroes, but also the enemy.

Q. Your films have demonstrated your independent sensibilities. Is streaming a viable alternative for you? When I was starting out, I took chances with debut directors and new writers, but it became harder as the exhibition space shrunk. On streaming platforms, there is more fair play for products not considered mainstream. The content is different, more evolved

Q. You freely share your socio-political views on social media. Aren’t you wary of the repercussions?

It has become harder to make a point without being misunderstood. My opinions have had repercussions in the past, but I have spoken truth to power. But I’m also privileged and male, so, I won’t tell everyone to try it. Survival of the self is also important.