Anupam Kher: I was ready to walk alone

'When I decided to undertake the protest march, I didn't think of the repercussions or how I would look on television.'

'If you take a look at some of those who returned their awards, you'll see most them were forgotten until they raised a noise about returning their awards.'

On Saturday, November 7, Bollywood actor Anupam Kher led a march to Rashtrapati Bhavan decrying the 'Award Wapsi' campaign as a 'political conspiracy to defame the country.'

Kher spoke about the march and its motivations to Subhash K Jha.

"It was historic, simply historic. I never expected the kind of support I got."

"I was outraged at the selective outrage being displayed by the so-called intelligentsia. When I decided to undertake that protest march to Rashtrapati Bhavan, I didn't think of the repercussions or how I would look on television. I was ready to walk alone."

"I have always followed the lonely path -- from playing a 60-year-old man in Saaraansh when I was in my 20s. I never expected so many people to join me on Saturday. We had 15,000 people with us. It was historic."

"It was a protest against protesters. I was discouraged by a few of my well-wishers who said that protests and candle marches hold no relevance. But I decided to take on the hypocritical token protests of authors and filmmakers with my own token protest. I never expected it would work so well."

"I really was not worried about others joining me for the march. People from all walks of life were welcomed. But I wasn't taking this walk to protest in a mass group. This was my conviction and I was determined to stand by it alone."

"As Rabindranath Tagore said, Jodi tor dak shune keu na ase tobe ekla cholo re (If no one accompanies you, walk alone)."

"Lata Mangeshkar's song Koi Mere Saath Chale Na Chale, Mujhe Koi Saathi Miley Na Miley, Par Jaana Hai Zaroor Kahin Door, Kahin Door Jahan Mere Sapnon Ka Pyaar Paley kept playing over and over in my head."

"Some cynics say my decision to protest against the 'Award Wapsi' campaign was for publicity. But if you take a look at some of those who returned their awards, you'll see most them were forgotten until they raised a noise about returning their awards. They were the ones who needed publicity, not me."

• Anupam Kher: People don't want to give Modi a chance