Sushant Singh Rajput was really excited about the release of Kedarnath for many reasons. It brought him back together with director Abhishek Kapoor with whom Sushant’s cinematic journey started after Kai Po Che. Thereafter, the two had a massive fall-out. But Sushant and Abhishek Kapoor reconciled for Kedarnath, a Hindu-Muslim love story which eventually survived Sara Ali Khan’s screechy attention-grabbing presence, thanks to Sushant in his abbreviated career’s gentlest performance.
I had brought up Sushant’s differences with his Kedarnath director just before the film’s release, and he had laughed softly. “Arrey, Sir jaane dijiye na. Chhoro kal ki baatein kal ki baat purani. What is important is that Gattu (Abhishek Kapoor) and I are back together. Kedarnath will be a turning point for both of us. It is about God and the oneness of humanity. Gattu is a bhakt of Shiv Bhagwan. So am I.”
As excited as a schoolboy visiting his most favourite spot in the world, Sushant said, “Pataa hai, Sir? I play a pithoo in Kedarnath. I am a Muslim character named Mansoor. But I carry all the Hindu pilgrims on my back to the temple. Isn’t this true secularism, Sir?”
So, was Kedarnath Sushant’s most secular film?
Replied Sushanr, “I don’t know about most secular. But I want all my films to convey a message of universal brotherhood. We live in stressful times. Cinema should do the healing. Being an actor is a responsibility. I never want to play a character that sends out the wrong message.”
I wonder what Sushant would have to say about the feral franchises about gun toting sociopaths which rule the waves!
Sushant won my heart by saying, “One more thing Sir. There is another reason why Kedarnath is very special to me and would be special to you: I get to sing Lataji’s ‘Lag ja gale se’. I know how much you worship Lataji. My mother was also a big fan of hers, especially this song. So this one is for you, Maa.”
Sushant and his mother must be singing ‘Lag ja gale se’ in Heaven
