‘The real purpose is to start a conversation’: Anubhav Sinha on 'Article 15'

After directing masala entertainers like Tum Bin (2001), Dus (2005) and Ra.One (2011), Anubhav Sinha changed his trajectory with last year’s Mulk, which dealt with some hard-hitting issues prevalent in our society. The movie was critically acclaimed for the way he tackled the Hindu-Muslim divide and the prejudice surrounding it. Now, in his next, Article 15, which is inspired by true incidents he brings to the fore the sensitive subject of caste discrimination. Here, Anubhav tells us the idea behind making the film, what prompted him to cast Ayushmann Khurrana as a cop and more.  

Do you believe films as a medium can bring about a change?

No, that is too much responsibility. It is too much to expect that a movie will probably change things. A lot of problems in the society exist because we don’t talk about it. My effort has been to get people to talk about it. In daily life, there are times when people are happy to talk about  problems, but when the society is troubled by something, there is never a larger platform for discussion. Bollywood is religion in our country and that is the best place where you can place those questions on the table. 

What prompted you to make a film like Article 15?

You keep reading about it on a daily basis. You wonder why some lower-caste girls are raped and killed. You see this happening in the interiors of India. We don’t talk or think much about it. But it is a part of our life in big cities, too. You see it in the matrimonial columns where they look for same caste marriages. Recently, there was news about a lady committing suicide in the heart of Mumbai in a medical college, a place which has lot of educated people. You keep getting affected by such things and from there a story triggers in your head. 

Ayushmann Khurrana in a still from Article 15

How did you think of Ayushmann Khurrana, who is known for slice-of-life films, for the role of a gritty cop?

To be honest, we met for another movie. But Ayushmann had just seen Mulk and was a great admirer of the film. He asked me, ‘What if we do something different, intense, and hard hitting?’ I had this story (of Article 15), which I shared with him and he got excited. It was his eagerness in this movie that convinced me. When someone is so convinced to do something like this, his honesty will come through. And it turned out to be true, you will see it, he is so earnest, and committed. 

What are your expectations from the film?

I am just hoping that people like it and talk about it. That’s the real purpose — to start a conversation.

The trailer irked the Brahmin community in Uttar Pradesh. They are offended about their depiction in the film which they feel is based on the Badaun rape case. What is your reaction?

We never said it is based on the Badaun rape case, they inferred something, and got offended. The entire onus is on them. The film is not based on any one incident. It is inspired by several incidents. Some people have created a story in their head, based on the trailer. I don’t know how to deal with their fictitious script. What I would like to say is watch the film, then if you get offended, talk to me. I am convinced they won’t need to talk. 

With Mulk, it looks like you’ve changed your journey as a filmmaker. 

(Cuts in) If you are saying it is different from the rest of my filmography, all my movies have been varied. Dus was different from Tum Bin, and Ra.One from Dus, but the difference didn’t pop out as much as Mulk. That was because it was an issue-based film and crossed the line as being a serious, hard-hitting movie.

But didn’t it change you as a filmmaker?

As a filmmaker I have changed, yes. I seem to have crossed a line and that journey, trajectory change is more apparent. I’d say, what changed dramatically in me as a filmmaker is the fact that now, it is about why am I making the film, what is this supposed to mean to people. Earlier, it was more about entertaining or engaging them. That is the big difference.