Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal, who will be seen in Prakash Jha’s Satyagraha, says that since he has worked with the director and the star cast before, the project was like “going back home” for him.
The film also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor and Manoj Bajpayee. Arjun has worked with Jha in films like Raajneeti and Chakravyuh in the past.
“It was fantastic. This is Prakash’s most ambitious project. There is a wonderful star cast, all of whom I have worked with a lot. It was like going back home and having a good time,” Arjun told IANS.
The actor said that he had to spend a lot of time with the other actors during the shooting of the film, and that made it a memorable experience. “The film is quite intense ... We spent a lot of time on and off set together. We were in Bhopal for 60 days,” he said.
Jha had approached Arjun for the film while filming their last film Chakravyuh itself. “Prakash had not really got a character for me. He was working on Chakravyuh  and he was scripting Satyagraha. He told me if he gave me a part, would I do it? I said yes. It became a full-fledged role and when I read the part, I really liked it,” said the model-turned-actor.
However, Arjun did not wish to play a similar role to what he had played in Jha’s film, Raajneeti.
“My fear was since I was going back with Prakash in a political thriller, will my character be similar to what I had played before. I wanted to stay clear from that. Prakash wanted to do something new and I was wondering how he will do that this time,” he said.
Arjun’s will be seen as a young and volatile person in the film, but in a different way.
“The character is different from what I played in Raajneeti, he is young and volatile but in a different way. He is not a selfish man or come from a rich home. He is a guy who is from the grassroots. He is the muscle power of that campaign,” he said.
Satyagraha is set to release August 30.



My journey has been
satisfying: Amrita Rao

Actress Amrita Rao is satisfied that she has got the chance to work under some big banner films without having any “filmy” backgorund.
“Being from a non-filmy family, I have done all good films and all A-plus category directors came my way. I am thankful to have been a part of these films,” said the 32-year-old.
After Main Hoon Na and Vivah, Amrita’s last memorable role was in 2008 Welcome to Sajjanpur. After that, most of her films, like Shortkut — The Con Is On, bombed at the box office.
Although she couldn’t make a mark for herself in showbiz like other actresses, she has no complains.
“The kind of films other actresses are doing are different. I always used to think I don’t want to be someone else. They are different, their background is different, comfort level is different and ambition is different. “In the journey to be someone else, you lose some important qualities of yourself. Later you realise, ‘Why I did that role out of my comfort zone?’ So, I don’t want to be in a regretful situation,” she said.
Amrita, who will be next seen in Prakash Jha’s Satyagraha, says her “journey so far has been very satisfying”. Except one grudge. “In my career, all my top class films Vivah, Main Hoon Na, Welcome To Sajjanpur, there were no dance numbers which stirs the nation. Songs make actors superstars. Songs have an important contribution. So, yes songs were missing in my films I guess,” said Amrita.


Biopics always need cinematic liberty: Srinivas Reddy


Director Srinivas Reddy, who is busy working on Ma Neta Rajanna, a Telugu film on late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy (YSR), feels filmmakers need cinematic liberty to make biopics.
“Biopics are not easy to make. They are very challenging and one needs some degree of cinematic liberty since they are based on someone else’s life. Audiences are always ready to point out mistakes in these films, and therefore, you need the freedom to compromise on few things,” Srinivas told IANS.
“Making a film based on the life of a political figure means that you’re dealing with the emotions of lakhs of his or her followers. One scene is more than enough to earn their wrath. Just because you’re making a biopic doesn’t mean you can include every minor detail,” he added.
In Ma Neta Rajanna, Reddy will portray some politicians who belong to the opposition party in negative shade without belittling them. “This wouldn’t be possible without having the freedom to even attempt it at the first place,” he added. Ma Neta Rajanna will feature veteran actor Vijaychander in the role of YSR.
“He is a versatile actor. All of us know he is one the popular actors in the Telugu industry to have been part of several biopics over the years. I didn’t have any other actor in mind,” he added.
Vijaychander is known for playing the screen avatars of Shirdi Sai Baba, Jesus Christ, Kabirdas and even Telugu stalwarts such as NT Rama Rao and T Prakasam Pantulu. Ma Neta Rajanna is the second film on YSR after Telugu film Jagannayakudu by P C Reddy.
Srinivas says he is making the film out of passion. “It will only be on him from his initial days as a doctor to his political career and his death. I have been one of his followers and this film is my way of paying tribute to him. I’m not trying to seek any political mileage out of this,” he said.
The film also features Raghunatha Reddy, Mani Chandana and yesteryear heroine Geethanjali in important roles. It is slated to release in November. — IANS