Anupam Kher & Hansal Mehta Engage In War Of Words After Manmohan Singh’s Passing: ‘You Were Creative Director…’

Anupam Kher has been a vocal BJP supporter. Hansal Mehta is a self-proclaimed ‘anti-BJP/Pro-Congress’ filmmaker who has often spoken against the current government for many years. At one point, years after Manmohan Singh was no longer the Prime Minister of India, a movie named The Accidental Prime Minister was released, which was adapted from a memoir of the same name by Sanjaya Baru.

Now, after Dr. Manmohan Singh’s passing, attention is back to the 2019 movie. Directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte and starring Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh, Akshaye Khanna as Sanjaya Baru, Suzanne Bernert as Sonia Gandhi, Arjun Mathur as Rahul Gandhi, and Aahana Kumra as Priyanka Gandhi, among others, the movie has now caused an online rift between Kher and Hansal Mehta. The latter was also a part of the movie, and portrayed the role of former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

It all began when journalist Vir Sanghvi wrote on Twitter, “If you want to remember the lies that were told about Manmohan Singh, you should rewatch The Accidental Prime Minister. It is not only one of the worst Hindi movies ever made but is an example of how the media was used to tarnish the name of a good man.” Mehta backed Sanghvi’s statement with a simple retweet, writing, “+100.” This didn’t sit well with Kher.

+100
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 27, 2024

Kher lashed out at Mehta in a strongly worded post, accusing him of hypocrisy. “The HYPOCRITE in this thread is NOT @virsanghvi. He has the freedom to not like a film. But @mehtahansal was the #CreativeDirector of #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister. Who was present at the entire shoot of the film in England! Giving his creative inputs and must have taken the fee also for it. So for him to say 100% to #VirSanghvi’s comment is so messed up and full of double standards! Not that I agree with Mr. Sanghvi but we are all capable of doing bad or indifferent work. But we should OWN it. Not like #HansalMehta trying to earn some brownies from a certain section of people. Common Hansal!! Grow up! I still have all our videos and pics of the shoot together!”

The HYPOCRITE in this thread is NOT @virsanghvi. He has the freedom to not like a film. But @mehtahansal was the #CreativeDirector of #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister. Who was present at the entire shoot of the film in England! Giving his creative inputs and must have taken the fee…
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) December 27, 2024

Responding calmly, Mehta acknowledged his mistakes, writing, “Of course I own my mistakes, Mr. Kher. And I can admit that I made a mistake. Can’t I, sir? I did my job as professionally as I was allowed to. Can you deny that? But it doesn’t mean I have to keep defending the film or that it makes me lose objectivity about my error of judgment.”

Of course I own my mistakes Mr Kher. And I can admit that I made a mistake. Can’t I sir? I did my job as professionally as I was allowed to. Can you deny that? But it doesn’t mean I have to keep defending the film or that it makes me lose objectivity about my error of judgement.…
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 27, 2024

And by the way @anupampkher sir… you can say all you want. Call me names if you wish. Apologies if I’ve inadvertently hurt you. Sending love to you. Whenever you wish we will speak and clear the air. I will not give space to trolls to distort this further and have a field day at…
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 27, 2024

In a measured tone, he added, “Call me names if you wish. Apologies if I’ve inadvertently hurt you. Sending love to you. Whenever you wish, we will speak and clear the air. I will not give space to trolls to distort this further and have a field day at our expense. Good night, belated Xmas greetings, and a happy new year in advance. To you and all the hyperactive trolls.”

Earlier, Mehta expressed regret over the portrayal of Manmohan Singh in The Accidental Prime Minister in light of his recent passing at the age of 92. Reflecting on the former PM’s legacy, Mehta tweeted, “The nation owes him an apology. More than anybody else, I owe him one. Whatever the compulsion or intent, it is a regret I will carry with a very heavy heart. Sorry, sir. Besides your achievements as an economist, Finance Minister, and Prime Minister, you were an honorable man – a rare gentleman in a vocation dominated by ruffians.”

See Also: Hansal Mehta Says He Owes Late PM Manmohan Singh An Apology: ‘It Is A Regret I Will Carry…’