‘I can’t bear politics’

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Saif Ali Khan talks about how working in Aarakshan with Prakash Jha has altered his stance on the reservation policy in Indian academics

Q Your image is decidedly urban. Was it challenging for you to play a rural character in Aarakshan?
The challenging part about acting is that it gives you a chance to play roles that are different from what you are. This role actually demands you to feel the character from within, having a certain expression in your eyes. Prakashji said that the character has a Zen-like calm instead of an edgy nervousness.

Q Prakash Jha is known for his pure Hindi. Any particular Hindi words that you learnt from him?
That will make a separate dictionary (laughs). The word that comes to my mind is “gadha” which is what he calls people when he is annoyed at the mistakes they make on the sets.

Q How was your experience of working with Prakash Jha?
Most films these days try to ape the West in terms of the clothes, the subjects and the general attitude. So, I feel it’s really nice to have a filmmaker like Prakash Jha who takes up subjects and situations that are relevant to India. It was a wonderful experience to go to Bhopal and shoot a film on India, play a character which is Indian to the core. It’s something that will reach out to the common man. It is fantastic that there is a school of thought in our industry like his.

Q Did your perception of the reservation policy change after working in Aarakshan?
Yes. When I started working in this film, I was completely against reservation, because I felt that things should be achieved on merit. But now I have realised that there is another dimension to the subject. Most people in our country are very underprivileged. And it’s not like you can get a job or become a doctor without passing a certain exam. I don’t think you can govern this country by normal methods because it is a unique situation. After this film, I have altered my stance on reservation to a certain extent. It should exist but to what extent and what percentage, that is debatable.

Q Do you like politics?
I can’t bear politics.
— BNS