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More news →'Aligarh' trailer hits 3 million mark
The trailer of the film "Aligarh", which addresses homosexuality, has received over three million views on video sharing website YouTube. The trailer of the Hansal Mehta directorial was launched on January 28. Happy with the response to the trailer, actor Manoj Bajpayee, who plays a pivotal role in the movie, tweeted: “Three million views and still counting! Thank you for the support #ComeOut” The film is based on the life of Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a professor at Aligarh Muslim University who was removed from his job for homosexuality. While Manoj essays the professor's role, actor Rajkummar Rao plays a journalist in the film.
'Aligarh' brave film by brave filmmaker: Mahesh Bhatt
National Award-winning filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has praised as a "brave film" Hansal Mehta's "Aligarh", which addresses homosexuality. "'Aligarh': A brave film by a brave filmmaker! An outstanding starcast," Bhatt tweeted. In an earlier tweet, Mehta had expressed joy over the number of views which the trailer of "Aligarh" had garnered online. "(So far) 2.1 million views on Eros Now, over 1.75 million views on Youtube. Nearly 4 million views and still counting. Aligarh trailer is killing it. Come out and watch," Mehta tweeted. The trailer of the Hansal Mehta-directorial was launched on January 28. The film is based on the life of Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a professor at Aligarh Muslim University who was sacked for homosexuality. While Manoj essays the professor's role, actor Rajkummar Rao plays a journalist in the film, which is releasing on February 26.
Manoj Bajpayee's 'Aligarh' to premiere at 20th BIFF
Actor Manoj Bajpayee's film "Aligarh", which is directed by Hansal Mehta, will be premiered at the 20th Busan International Film Festival. Manoj took to micro-blogging website Twitter where he congratuated his entire cast and crew members for the movie being premiered at the festival, which is to be held in South Korea from October 1 to 10. "So our film ALIGARH premieres at BUSAN FILM FESTIVAL. congratulations to each and every member of the team.@mehtahansal @RajkummarRao @Apurv," Manoj tweeted. "Aligarh", which also features Rajkummar Rao, is based on the real life incident of Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras whose services as professor were terminated because of his sexual orientation.
Role in 'Aligarh' made me a better person: Manoj Bajpayee
Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who has essayed the role of a professor in Hansal Mehta's "Aligarh", says it changed him and made him a "better person". "My role in Aligarh is so gentle and pure hearted that it made me a better person. I have not seen a noble human like him (the character in Aligarh). It is a great story to tell. You will be moved by the character," Manoj told. The actor also said that "acting is the most difficult job in the entire world". "It is always tough to get into somebody else's skin and to understand somebody else's soul or his journey when you are doing serious acting. So nothing gives you immense pleasure when you resemble the role you are playing," he added. Talking about his character in "Aligarh", Manoj said he felt the story moved the audience which primarily focuses on the treatment of homosexuality in Indian society. Set in a town in Uttar Pradesh from which the film takes its name, "Aligarh" is the story of a professor (Manoj Bajpayee) fired for his sexuality and a young journalist (Rajkummar Rao) who tells his story to the world. As the film garnered applause and received a standing ovation following its screening at the 20th Busan International Film Festival and London Film Festival, an elated Manoj said "We got huge appreciation at Busan and London Film Festival. Critics and audience admired the film and emailed me, left messages. So this proves that 'Aligarh' is a great film and doesn't matter whether it is about homosexuality or not, but it is a great story to tell." "Aligarh" will open the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival here on October 30.
Every character in 'Aligarh' moved me: Karan Johar
Filmmaker Karan Johar says he can relate to Hansal Mehta's film "Aligarh" and every character in the film emotionally moved him. "I related to the film, that means I related to each and every character. I was upset by the treatment meted out to the character by certain people, which means that it was performed efficiently," Karan said after the film's screening on Wednesday. "More than having my sympathy, it had my thought engaged. It has made me think, it made me question, it's aroused me in a certain way and I think that's what films should do. It should make you get out of the cinema, think about it and have a strong opinion," he said. The film is based on the real-life of Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a professor of Aligarh Muslim University who was removed from his job for homosexuality. Manoj Bajpayee plays the role of the professor while Rajkummar Rao plays a journalist. "I'm very emotionally moved by the film. Not just the outstanding performances by the lead actors Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkummar Rao, Hansal Mehta has made a beautiful and a thought-provoking film," Karan said. "It's important that producer and director have a responsibility that they make a film like this that not only move you and emotionally enrich you, but they also make you think after you go home. This film required everybody's support, I hope most people will be moved because it's a film that you must see," he said. Some films such as "Fire" based on homosexuality faced protests in the past and the theme of homosexuality usually has a divided opinion in the country. "I would really like to meet people who have an opinion against it, because that means those minds are perhaps not as evolved. But for people who feel the emotional energy of the film, I hope they spread the word and I hope that more people engulf their presence into this film," Karan said. "Aligarh" is slated to release on February 26.
Manoj Bajpayee still straight after 'Aligarh'
Despite more than a month of preparation and shooting for a role that was homosexual in the film "Aligarh", actor Manoj Bajpayee says he is still straight. Social activist Harish Iyer, who was present along with the cast and crew of the film at a press meet on Tuesday, told Manoj: "I promise you that you will not become gay if you support this film." Manoj replied: "He is right. Thirty days of preparation, and 35 days of shooting for this role, I'm still straight." Manoj plays a professor who is homosexual, and who was filmed while he became intimate with another male. That video led the college management to suspend him, after which he pursues a court case and gets his job back, but loses his life in the process. "Gulzar sahab says that all characters, if you really play them seriously, leave a mark in your brain. Most of the actors who take their work very seriously and work in these kind of films, you'll find them having mood swings. It creates a vacuum inside you, your mind is bruised after playing so many various characters from theatre days till now," Manoj said. "It's quite taxing when whole day you're in the character, and if you don't do that, you'll miss the 'sur'. You have to be in the character and you have to be walking, eating like him," he said. "Aligarh", directed by Hansal Mehta and also starring Rajkummar Rao, is releasing on February 26. On how to come out of the character, he said: "If you want to be sane, then you really have to switch off. This is what my psychiatrist told me 10-15 years back. I didn't know how to do that but I started working on it, and now I reached a point that after pack-up, I just switch off. I like to unwind by disturbing Hansal Mehta by knocking his door 50 times." "Find people from the unit, sit with them, talk to them, just forget what you've done and look for the next day. At the end of the day have a glass of wine, play up some music, dance, that's what I do," Manoj added.