It's a dog eat dog situation when you enter the political battlefield. You ready for it?
Well, let me clear the air. I was invited by the CM for the PM's party meet. They all spoke well and we sat there for a good couple of hours. I was accompanied by Subhash Ghai and Manmohan Shetty.
I wanted to meet our PM because I respect that person a lot but we didn't get a chance. I wasn't supporting any party as such. I was just invited and I had to honour the invite. Today our job doesn't end by going and voting.
It's a little bit more than that. Post 26/11, we all are shaken up. Ab maamla ghar tak aa gaya hain. Today, one has to be a bit more responsible and involved, and if that involvement means me getting into politics, I really don't mind. So may be in the next elections, you'll see my involvement.
There is a price you pay when you join politics. How do you deal with it?
To a certain extent it is. Every now and then you hear some candidate being shot or murdered. Politics has become dirty. Someone told me that even today; the ratio of good people is more than that of the bad.
When this same ratio is flipped, we need to be alarmed about. Having said that, there are lots more educated people coming into politics now and are trying for a change.
And things will change. Perhaps it might take two more elections or let's say one more. We have got everything inherited from our ancestors and it's time we give something back to our future generation.
It seems you've lost trust somewhere.
You're right. I've lost faith completely post 26/11. I don't trust anyone. I just want that faith to come back. The whole idea is to trust someone or someone trusts you. I was in South Africa when the Taj and Trident incident happened.
I was there for the next thirty days and missed being part of those rallies and ceremonies. I wanted to be with my India and my people in time of grief. I was frustrated. In fact, post 26/11; people have become a bit responsible if not trustworthy.
With so many successors ahead of you, as a youngster, how far do you want to reach in politics?
Let's say in acting, I want to be number one. I want to be the best and I'll do what I can to compete with SRK, Ranbir Kapoor or whoever. Politics is a completely different ball game all together.
Politics is all about coming together than competing with each other. My idea is not to be the PM of India. But even if I can do something in my locality, it'll be great. If I can make my area secured, I've won my election.
How much room is there for idealism in political leadership and achieving your goals?
I think idealism is the factor that'll prompt you or motivate you to do certain things. The word idealism exists but it's time we need to give some meaning and depth to it.
Each party started off with some ideology and down the line we see that it has gone for a complete toss. Few days back I read an interview where Mr. Sanjay Dutt was asked about his manifesto which stated that the party will ban English and there won't be computers, machines won't be used for farming, etc.
When asked Mr. Dutt on his comments about the manifesto, he said, "I was busy campaigning. I didn't have time to read it". My question is - What was Mr. Dutt campaigning about? I think that things are really going wrong somewhere. Is there any room for idealism here?
Do you ever stop and think back how you could've handled things differently if you weren't an actor?
I don't know what I would've done. Probably get a stable job in a nationalized bank. And before you ask why a bank job, because there is an inter bank drama competition. That's how my hobby can be fulfilled.
If a young person came to you who wanted to live a life of activism, a political life, what would your advice be to him?
When I started doing Iqbal, there was one thing that Nagesh Kukunoor told me that if I ever wanted to succeed as an actor, I just needed to be honest with myself and the character I was portraying. I'd like to advice all youngsters to be honest to themselves in whatever they do.
What do you see as the biggest challenge ahead? Not just for you and India, but for the world which is heading quick in the 21st century?
At the moment, the biggest problem we are facing is security. Every side and part of the world is under tremendous tension.
We are more worried now and want to find out who has come to live next to us, meaning our neighbours. Who are they? Where have they come from? etc. The trust and security issue is what we need to handle in the current scenario.
Most of our revenue is going in defense services, arms and ammunitions. So if that's the case, why is there a lapse in security each year? Get it sorted man!
Tomorrow if you join politics, what would be your Indian Dream?
Everybody wants to see India on the global map, the next super power, etc. That's secondary. I want to get my faith back and that's my primary concern. And not just me.
The whole nation wants to get their sense of security and faith in the political scenario and the security of our country. If they can do that, I'll be like a King. That for me is my Indian Dream.
Are you happy in the small space you've made for yourself in the industry?
I am very happy. I am also ambitious and want to grow and achieve a lot of things. I know I will but want to give a bit of time to it. I want to stay here for a long time.
So with the pace I'm going, I am safe and sound. But in my entire journey, I'd love to work with Raj Kumar Santoshi because I think he has got a very honest and an aggressive approach towards all his films.
Mani Ratnam is the next director I'd love to work with because of his superb and diverse filmography. Having said that, I've also worked with a completely different school of directors. From Nagesh and Shyam Benegal to Farah Khan.
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