Bollywood superstars Kareena Kapoor and Ajay Devgn have launched the official theatrical trailer of Prakash Jha’s multi-starrer epic Satyagraha. Both Kareena and Ajay attended the event at the Taj Hotel in London where the trailer was also simultaneously launched in Mumbai. The film also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Bajpayee, Arjun Rampal and Amrita Rao in pivotal roles. Satyagraha forms part of a string of politically-oriented films that have been made by Prakash Jha, who is the mastermind behind Raajneeti (2010) and Chakravyuh (2012), which received strong critical responses. The trailer was highly praised at the event, which is centred on the political climate that is currently affecting India today. Subsequently, Kareena and Ajay graciously took part in a Q&A session with the media where they discussed all things Satyagraha!
Asked what prompted her to take on a project like Satyagraha, Kareena had the following to say. “Well for me I think it was interesting because I always wanted to work with Prakashji. The role that he has offered me is a role of a journalist, which I haven’t really essayed before. It’s a very strong and sensitive character and I just couldn’t say no. And of course being part of a film which is socially very relevant right now in our country (India), I was just very honoured to be a part of that.”
Ajay also responded to the same question and gave this answer. “For me, I have done a lot of films with Prakashji and I think he has found his golden balance. He can engage the audience and also say something which he really wants to say. This film is about personal stories and how four of us get together and get into a revolution.”
Kareena explained at the Q&A about how she went about preparing for her role as a journalist in the film. “Over the years looking at popular TV journalists, whether it’s in India or abroad like Barkha Dutt or Christiane Amanpour. The way their personalities are is very similar to mine because I am headstrong and quite sure about what I want. So the character of mine in Satyagraha is slightly like that. And of course I think I am a director’s actress so I don’t really prepare in such for the role and I completely followed exactly what Prakashji wanted me to do.”
Asked if Satyagraha has a message that will have an impact on the audiences in India and worldwide, Ajay stated the following. “I don’t know what kind of an impact it is going to have. The intention is not to have an impact. The intention is to understand and realise what the reality is. I also think international audiences who are well-connected with India will feel what is happening in our country by watching this film.”
Kareena was asked if any particular form of Indian philosophy or practices (such as Gandhisim) will be illustrated in Satyagraha. “It’s not an illustration or documentary; it’s a movie. It will have a message and it will be dramatic and socially relevant. But we’re not kind of you know preaching or talking about philosophy or philosophers and what they actually said through this film.” Ajay added the following when the question was directed to him also. “The bottom line is that the key message of the film is that you can’t just sit and open the newspaper in the morning and read about what’s happening. If you need to make the change, you need to make the change yourself. If you look at India 20 years back and you look at India today; it has changed a lot. And that is only because of literacy. That’s the only way change will happen and it is happening.”
Before the Q&A was wrapped up, Kareena was asked by one media correspondent if her pairing with Ajay will be another success at the box office, given that their last films Omkara (2006) and the Golmaal series had done tremendously well. “I am just hoping that the movie does well because every film I have done with Ajay has been absolutely spectacular. He is very, very special and one of our country’s finest actors.”
Satyagraha releases in cinemas worldwide on 23 August 2013. Be prepared to see a revolution unfold!
Check out the official theatrical trailer below as well as our cool pics from the press conference!
