Arjun Rampal: It’s sad to see the army being maligned

The one thing constant about Arjun Rampal in the 18 years that he has been in the film industry is his cheerful disposition. Irrespective of what may be playing on his mind, he always has a smile on his face and is brimming with optimism. Last seen in Daddy (2017), which he also produced, the actor is gung-ho about his upcoming release, JP Dutta’s Paltan, which is backed by Zee Studios. He plays Lt Col Rai Singh, the Commanding Officer of 2 Grenadiers who played an important role in the 1967 Indo-China clash at Nathu La along the Sikkim border.

In a freewheeling chat, he talks about the importance of this chapter in India’s history, the armed forces’ dedication at the border and in times of natural calamities like the recent Kerala floods as well as his production plans. Yes, even though his biopic on the gangster-turned-politician didn’t fare well commercially, Arjun remains undeterred in making movies on stories that he wants to tell. Read on...

What does playing a man in a uniform mean to you?

It depends on the film you’re doing. If it’s something like Paltan, in which you are portraying a real-life character, then your responsibility increases tremendously. If you’re playing a fictional person, then you can take liberties. This movie is based on true incidents. When I first heard about it from JP sir, I was shocked that there was a fight between India and China in 1967, after 1962, in which our soldiers were massacred. It was a brave feat and this chapter should be included in our history books. It’s extremely special for me to tell this kind of a story. In fact, most of us who star in the film have some connect with the armed forces. 
Either someone’s grandfather, father or uncle had been in the army, so they’ve lived in cantonment areas and interacted with the personnel on a day-to-day basis.

How do you see the 1967 Nathu La and Cho La clashes as compared to the Battle of Longewala on the basis of which JP made Border (1997) or the Kargil war that was made as LOC Kargil (2003)? 

In 1967, Sikkim was not a part of India. The King of Sikkim had asked Indian forces to give them protection. So, we were protecting a territory that was not a part of the nation. After 1962, there was a lot of anger, fear and conflict with China. When you speak to someone like JP sir, who is well-versed with history, the way he talks of 1962 makes sense. That was not a war. For a war to happen, a chain of events lead to that situation, both sides are alert, they prepare themselves and warn each other before the first attack. 

In 1955, Pandit Nehru had suggested that Chairman Mao Zedong-led China be made a part of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). We were trying to maintain good ties with our neighbours. But in 1962, they attacked us all of a sudden and massacred not just our soldiers, but also killed many civilians. In 1967, we had gone to protect Sikkim, knowing the history of 1962 and gave China a bloody nose. Maj Gen Sagat Singh and Lt Col Rai Singh, the characters played by Jackie Dada (Shroff) and me respectively, say ‘Let’s put a fence and seal the border.’ That’s a conflict, both the countries were prepared and it led to the clashes. 

In 1971, too, there was conflict. We knew the Pakistan troops were coming. All talks had gone down the drain and it was important to have our army there. I don’t think 1962 gave us a fair chance.

Why do you think it’s important to tell this story? 

For the morale of our army. When you talk of making a film on unsung heroes, these are our unsung heroes. If we had not held our ground, as Jackie Dada’s character says in the trailer, ‘We cannot leave Nathu La,’ then the ground reality there would have been different today. It was eight years after this clash with China that Sikkim formally became a part of India in April-May 1975. The whole map would have changed if this event had not happened.

What do you attribute the flawed historical narrative over the years to? 

It was all politically manipulated. When you see the film, you will know.

Do you see this film being a part of the course correction? 

I want it to be and I hope so. I don’t know why it’s not there, but it’s an important part of Indian history. What our soldiers had done then, is there for you to see today. If you go to Nathu La, you’ll find the barbed wire fence there. There are statues of our soldiers and roads are named after them. They were awarded Param Vir Chakra and Mahavir Chakra for their bravery.

While you feel a sense of pride and responsibility in playing characters based on real soldiers, do people’s extreme views about the army upset you? 

Definitely. I think the army is one organisation that works beautifully without interference. If more people get involved in its business, corruption will seep in. The army should remain an incorruptible institute. People who try to influence deals by immoral ways should be kept away. Being in the army is a selfless and honourable job. They are risking and sacrificing their lives to make sure all of us have a good life and make this nation grow. So, yes, it is upsetting when people try to malign the army. I think they should be protected by us civilians as well as politicians and bureaucrats who are required to be in touch with them. 

Take the Kerala floods for example; they are like Gods in uniform. The kind of work our soldiers are doing is commendable and should be lauded. 

Tell us about the challenges that you faced while shooting in a rough terrain like Ladakh. 

At a point beyond Khardung La, which is the highest point, the temperature was minus 28 degrees. We were told that we can expose ourselves to this climate only for two hours, following which water would start filling our lungs. Marching through while shooting the song was tough. Another challenge was using real guns and bullets. We had to be careful and ensure that we didn’t hurt anyone. The reason behind using real arms and ammunition was that you have to feel you are in a war. Otherwise, we’ve seen how actors fire all around when fake guns and blanks are used. Here, you could see where the bullets were leaving their marks.

JP Dutta has a reputation of being a tough taskmaster, too. 

That’s what I thought before I met him. But he is the most amazing director to work with. His knowledge about cinema, armed forces, his personal connect with them and his passion are inspiring. He wanted to get this film out in its purest form. The only request he makes is you have to submit yourself to him, let him take you on this ride and he knows what he wants. The clarity and focus he works with, his intent is very pure. However, not many know that he has a terrific sense of humour. Also, he’s always on his feet. So, while filming, we would be standing, too, hoping he would sit so that even we could. For him to complete a trilogy of war films with Paltan is a correct choice and I’m glad to be a part of it. In fact, the whole Dutta family looked after us and made us feel a part of the family.

Indian cinema, more so the Hindi film industry doesn’t make too many war movies or historicals. Do you think there’s a certain cynicism or skepticism about our past? 

I don’t know. It’s up to the filmmaker and how he can capture it well on screen. It also depends on how such films fare commercially. If Paltan does well, it will encourage more filmmakers to tell our historical stories. Not war films per se, but about incidents that many people don’t know much about. We have such a vast history, full of diversity — the Mughal invasion, British coming in as traders and ruling us, our fight for independence. There are so many stories to tell. It’s now the responsibility of the younger generation of actors. Besides, with many actors also being producers, hopefully, we’ll see more such movies.

What’s next after Paltan? 

There are three movies, but I’m contemplating which one to start first. Two of them are my productions — one is a fantasy film and the other is a thriller. So, we’ll begin prep after mid-September. I wanted to finish Paltan first. After its release, I’ll have a clearer idea. Web is also an exciting phase. The idea is to create good content, experiment with diverse genres and stories. The kind of scripts I’m getting, some are real stories — one is a horror story and if done correctly, it will make for interesting viewing. There’s also a true story of a conman that I’m reading.