during the making of Buddha

Mumbai, May 13: Actor Anupam Kher says that his film “Buddha In A Traffic Jam”, which released on Friday, is the most relevant movie of the current times due to the ongoing socio-political situation in the country.

“It is the most relevant film of our times. We had made the film three years ago; due to certain reasons it couldn’t release… It is difficult for small films to release. Considering what is happening in the country, there could not have been a more relevant film than this,” Anupam said at a screening of the film, directed by Vivek Agnihotri.

In the film, Anupam plays a professor of a business school — a university where corruption and other national issues occur.

The recent controversy at the capital’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for alleged anti-national slogans, followed by arrests of some students and continuous involvement of the police, court and media, perhaps has parallels with the incidents of the film.

Anupam said: “What we made three years ago is happening today. So, real life has copied reel life.”

“I want to appreciate Vivek for the way he marketed the film. I don’t think he had the budget for the proper marketing and publicity. He went to numerous education institutes like IITs, because it is a film about students,” added the actor.

During Agnihotri’s recent visits to universities, there were clashes at the Jadavpur University in Kolkata.

About the controversies surrounding the film, Anupam said: “About 99 per cent of people have liked the film, and the people who wanted to create a controversy and to whom this film didn’t suit, a bit of a controversy happened there.”

“Buddha In A Traffic Jam” also stars Mahie Gill, Pallavi Joshi and Arunoday Singh among others.

By K. Dev