Mahatma Gandhi's principles are relevant today as well and youth should imbibe it - Anang Desai

Veteran actor Anang Desai was just a young and raw actor fresh out of the National School of Drama (NSD) when he was chosen to essay the important role of Acharya Kriplani in Sir Richard Attenborough’s best work, Gandhi. The actor who has scaled many heights since then still fondly recalls the days when he shot for the film in the early 80s’. Shares Anang, “I’m proud of the fact that my debut film was Gandhi. It was an eventful and wonderful experience to have worked with such a celebrated and internationally acclaimed director like Sir Richard Attenborough.” Although Anang’s role was more of a cameo in the form of Acharya Kriplani, the actor still recalls with pride his interaction with Attenborough. “Sir Richard was very friendly. He had an eye for detail. But one thing which made him stand apart from others was his absolute obsession about this film. He made it with a lot of passion.” While many others in India have tried making a film on Gandhi nobody has come close to replicating Richard’s success. Ask Anang the reason behind the same and the actor says, “Richard researched the subject for many years and made it with a lot of passion. He was thoroughly involved and he believed in the subject from the bottom of his heart.” The world after Gandhi has seen violence rise in many parts involving rampant blood- shed and loss of human life. All the more reason why Anang feels Gandhian principles are relevant and should be imbibed by the current generation. “Gandhian principles still holds true and relevant if you take it correctly. One of the reasons why the film was successful all over the world was because Bapu’s principles found a resonance the world over. People understood his point of view. All of us should imbibe now. It’s great that Modiji has started the campaign called Clean India since cleanliness was very dear to Gandhiji as well,” avers Anang Anang even today doesn’t miss out an opportunity of watching Gandhi whenever it is telecast on TV. Ask him what role he would like to play if someone were to remake, Anang says, “That’s a difficult question. Now that I have gone further in my career, I would like to play a role that contributes more to the film.”