Like films, elections are also all about marketing - Satish Kaushik

Veteran actor Satish Kaushik who will be seen playing a politician in Dekh Tamasha Dekh, feels that Indian elections too are all about marketing and PR. “It’s all become a game of marketing. The more you market yourself well, the greater your chances of winning are irrespective of how good you really are. Just like how it happens in Bollywood, where if you market your film well, people will go ahead and watch the movie despite the content being not that great,” says Satish. Just like others, Satish too is looking for a change this time around and believes that the person who will end up winning will be the one who can actually convince people with his vision. Though Satish stops short from naming any person or candidate as the one who he thinks can ring in the change, he is of the opinion that everyone should be given a fair chance. Talking about his role in Dekh Tamasha Dekh, Satish says, “It’s a political satire. I play a shrewd politician in the film who is also the owner of a newspaper. I use my power to maneuver people and their thinking. It connects to our current reality in the way that it shows how we all are just pawns in the hands of the politicians. Whether people are happy or sad, it doesn't matter to them. They are only concerned about their own interests. So you will get to see all these through my role.” With many actors including his colleagues jumping the political bandwagon, Satish has hitherto maintained his distance from politics. Explaining why he has preferred to steer clear from politics, Satish says, “I am happy being an actor and not inclined to get into politics. I have been approached by many parties but I don’t want to contest. I am more into social work. I have adopted a village in Haryana and since I belong to that village, I have taken it upon myself to develop it. I have started with the basic social structures like building the roads and constructing schools for kids. These are the activities that excite me more than politics.” Satish meanwhile does have some well wishes to pass on to his friend Anupam Kher’s wife Kirron who is contesting for Lok Sabha this season. Wishing them all the luck, Satish says, “I have had a great association with Kirron Kher and Anupam Kher. Kirron is a very good person and I am sure she will win and work for the betterment of her people.” Dekh Tamasha Dekh will open in cinema screens tomorrow (18 April 2014).