AAP reflects the anger among Indians: Irrfan Khan @ JLF

The Aam Aadmi Party reflects anger, which is among the people of India, said Bollywood star Irrfan Khan at the Jaipur Literature Festival, which kicked off on Friday.

The actor was reluctant to comment on the AAP when was asked about its success. He paused and later said, “There is anger among the people. So, such a party took shape and was successful.”

He soon clarified that he had no plans to join politics in the near future, “I was a born actor and now my career has just begun. I can’t even think of joining politics. If I feel like joining politics, I will give my 100 per cent to it. But as of now I do not want to,” he said.

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan had said at the Lit Fest in 2009 that the Oscar awards are not the ultimate recognition.

But Khan, who has starred in a couple of Academy winning films -- Slumdog Millionare and Life of Pi – held a different opinion. “The Oscar increases your market value, as they (Hollywood) have maintained the glory of that award. It means a lot to me,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.    

“I think life changes when an actor wins an Oscar. Other awards do not stand in front of it.”  

According to Khan, it’s work that actually makes the image of an actor. “People remember your work for a long time. If that image building comes through the media and not your work, then it does not last long.”

He attended two sessions at the fest -- one on Rajasthani author Vijaydan Detha, who passed away last November and another on Dalit and tribal writings. 

Irrfan, the poet

In the second session, Irrfan recited four poems of late Dalit poet Om Prakash Valmiki.

The last of the four, Thakur ka Kuaan (Well of Thakur) was so appreciated by the audience that he had to recite it twice.

The other poems that Irrfan recited were Shadiyo ki Shantap, Wo Mein Hu and Bitiya ka Basta.

During the session titled Aakrosh, Irrfan not only shared stage with the two writers -- Neerav Patel and Hariram Meena -- but also gave his view about Dalits and tribals being margianalised in India since long.

At the start of the session, stage co-ordinator Mahmood Farooqui thanked Irrfan as he had managed to draw a large number of people to listen to the two writers.

On being asked why the plight of backward sections of the society were not being portrayed enough by film industry, Irfan replied, “Yes, these days such movies are not being made, as it could not earn crores. But recently, some meaningful movies have been made... the numbers will increase in future.”

Image: Actor Irrfan Khan at the Jaipur Literature Festival

Photograph: Chandra Mohan Aloria