This was written in comments about a post on FB and comments below, about the biopic on life of son of RK heroine, with grandson of RK playing the protagonist, that was the most recently blockbuster hit latest in the kitty of RK Jr.
Most comments are missing two points about the film and the subject, one each.
To begin with, people flocked to see and loved the film, chiefly due to the unspoken obvious factor- the grandson of RK portrayed the son of his heroine. People haven't forgotten the pairing, no matter how much the underworld tried to wipe out memory of one by badmouthing and ignoring, or how much it became unkosher to think of the other except as social worker and MP.
And the RK grandson - yes, there are three others, but only one with his name, and complete name at that - does have the grandpa's unparalleled level of artistic talent inherited, and he has shown the similarity by his choice of films too, from beginning.
But the substantial point is also the difference between someone truly evil vs someone who broke the law and chose to pay the price, as the protagonist of the film did. The film fraternity knows this, hence their love for him. He could have remained abroad as a safe fugitive, taken citizenship of US due to marrying his first wife, but instead chose to return and face law. Did time in prison.
His guilt wasn't murder, it was technical breach of law, possession of a weapon he acquired illegally due to fear for safety of his family during the riots, when his house was vulnerable and threats over phone from both sides were frightening him. If he had a thousand such guns in Texas he would only be paying fine for not having a license, if that.
Responding to a comment below the original fb post on Republic tv page by Rathnakar Shetty
"Why not make a movie on Neharwala Nehru.
His agfairs, trysts, liasions, manipulative tactics which made him the first PM of India inspite of being rejected by the votes... who will bell the cat"
According to very high spiritual authority, someone of India, Jawaharlal Nehru was a noble person who was devoted to India and his soul is one with India after his death, so let us leave his personal life out of it, and as for him becoming PM, Gandhi made that happen - it's easier blaming Nehru isn't it, but really most bad decisions during Gandhi's life were his.
Responding to a comment below the original fb post on Republic tv page by Pranav Sharma
"A powerful director like Raju should not portray a criminal as a hero there are hundreds other inspirational biographies to b made"
Hm - didn't his first film glorify a gangster doing fraud to pretend being a doctor and say the gangster was better because he was not snobbish? Same in subsequent two? Abusing doctors, faculty, and not saying there might be some bad apples but portraying them as such? Hirani succeeded because people liked this abuse. Was that good?
Responding to a comment below the original fb post on Republic tv page by Ashok Karani
"B cos his 50% 1/2 DNA is from peaceful community."
No, not 50% - his mother and grandmother too had Hindu fathers like his own, in fact two out of three were of same community while the grandmother's father community wasn't far different. But those days Hindus disowned and others converted so Hindus lost. That is, presuming you meant the subject, not the director.
Responding to a comment below the original fb post on Republic tv page by Amit Jain
"Hirani belongs to what is now pakistan,no doubt his love will b for that land only"
Goodness, why abuse an entire community just because one guy has questionable taste as evident in his first film!
Responding to a comment below the original fb post on Republic tv page by Deepak Chandra
"As we seen from decades we know very well that sanjay dutt is criminal a drug addicter ana dog of daud Ibrahim"
Addiction fighting isn't easy, he has done it, but let's leave it at that - most smokers are not just addicts, they are giving cancer to everyone else around, and yet no one calls it murder! As for the crime, he returned by choice to face law, and has been paying price, but it was technical breach of law. Not murder.
Real point is the last but, so think about the Mumbai film industry and ask yourself, who is not in fear of a phone call from across ocean, to threaten or to order a murder? Think about various films, various shots, locations, names. Why did KHNH have to be set in N.Y. and shot so much with missing WTC background? Why the title Veer-Zaara? Why do perfectly sensible producers and directors use people from across border who are quite easily replaceable? And so on! Look at the roaster of capable artists since last three decades, and ask why only some get to be everywhere, despite daunting talent of others who struggle or vanish - the latter include not only some sons of established fathers, but not the community promoted by overseas, but also some of the said promoted community who aren't as favoured. Anyway, you can see your last point was trying to indicate one grain of sand on the beach, which in fact might not be the sand.
https://www.facebook.com/RepublicWorld/posts/1865227930257745
