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While Akshaye Khanna has stormed the nation with his unconventional and powerful performance in the thunderous film Dhurandhar, this is a reminder that he has long been part of cinema that dares to shake the conscience. One such film came 15 years ago, AAKROSH! In this rare 2010 interview with Lehren, Akshaye Khanna speaks about voicing the disturbing reality of honour killings and how this film aimed to leave a lasting impact with its strong message against this deep-rooted social evil. He opens up about the responsibility of cinema, the impact of the subject and why such strong messages are needed to be told. Catch this powerful and thought-provoking interview, only on Lehren.

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People
Transcript
00:00You know, I think in India, as a society in general, not any one particular individual,
00:12but we become very thick-skinned, you know.
00:15We see a beggar on the street who hasn't eaten in two days.
00:18It really doesn't affect us to the extent, say, someone who comes from abroad.
00:24It would affect them much more.
00:26Today, a hundred, you know, CRPF men get killed by naxels.
00:32It doesn't affect us the way it should affect us.
00:35Today, we know of a politician who's, you know, robbed the country of 2,000, 3,000 crores.
00:41You know what I'm saying?
00:44We've become very thick-skinned as a society.
00:46And I think even for honor killings, as a matter of fact, you know, they say,
00:51there's a census that says that almost 2,000 to 3,000 people are killed every year
00:59because of honor killings, caste issues, inter-religious marriages, stuff like that.
01:06It doesn't, you know, it doesn't impact us, so we don't really care about it as much as we should.
01:12And I think the making of this film, I think it's created, at least in me,
01:19and I suppose everyone who's been part of the film,
01:21and maybe hopefully everyone who watches the film,
01:23you know, make them a little more aware
01:26of the ground realities in our country, what is happening every day.
01:33And that we need to care, you know, about these things more.
01:36And I think that's really the difference that
01:38Akrosh has been for me as opposed to, you know, other normal movies that you do.
01:46And can you give me this one, in just like a brief sentence, like,
01:50why will Akrosh surpass the thick skin that we have developed here?
01:53Like, what is this one element that Akrosh will give?
01:56See, I think cinema is a very powerful medium.
02:02A medium that can change opinions, a medium that can create opinions,
02:07a medium that can create a lot of awareness,
02:09and more importantly, a medium that can affect you emotionally,
02:16for a very lasting period of time, you know.
02:20So, you know, that's why I think because of the medium,
02:24and because of the material, I think it will manage to, you know,
02:29we have not made this film to, you know, give a social message or to change society.
02:40That's not the reason to make the film.
02:42The reason to make a film is to entertain.
02:45But yet there is a message, and there is an important social problem that we face in this country,
02:53that the film is directly or indirectly addressing.
02:59So, in that sense, I think it will make an impact on the people that see it.
03:04And do you have like this, any kind of personal experience?
03:06Like, you know, you say an actor should have some kind of personal experience to bring out that character?
03:10No, not necessarily. I've never said that.
03:12No, no, I'm just, I'm just saying, do you have this any kind of personal experience
03:15which has motivated you more to do this kind of a role?
03:18No, I don't have any personal experience in as much as I don't know anybody who's been killed
03:22because they're married in another caste or another religion.
03:27I don't have any personal experience of that.
03:29But of course, you keep reading about it, you hear it on the news.
03:33But no, nothing that has affected me personally, no.
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