Hansal Mehta Fires Back After Anupam Kher Calls His Tweet About Manmohan Singh Biopic ‘Messed Up’: 'Call Me Names...'

The controversy began when Hansal Mehta endorsed journalist Vir Sanghvi’s tweet, describing ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ as “one of the worst Hindi movies.” 

Anupam Kher starrer 'The Accidental Prime Minister' met with harsh criticism and failed at the box office.

Source : IMDb

Actor Anupam Kher and filmmaker Hansal Mehta engaged in a heated exchange over the 2019 film ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’. The controversy began when Mehta endorsed journalist Vir Sanghvi’s tweet, describing the film as “one of the worst Hindi movies.” 

Anupam Kher vs Hansal Mehta

Vir took to X and wrote, "If you want to remember the lies that were told about Manmohan Singh you should rewatch The Accidental Prime Minister. It is not only one of the worst Hindi movies ever made but is an example of how media was used to tarnish the name of a good man." 

Reacting to it, Hansal wrote, "+100."

+100 https://t.co/e93gJcfb3N

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 27, 2024

Later, responding to Hansal's tweet, Anupam Kher wrote, "The HYPOCRITE in this thread is NOT @virsanghvi. He has the freedom to not like a film. But @mehtahansal was the #CreativeDirector of #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister. Who was present at the entire shoot of the film in England! Giving his creative inputs and must have taken the fee also for it. So for him to say 100% to #VirSanghvi’s comment is so messed up and full of double standards! Not that I agree with Mr. Sanghvi but we are all capable of doing bad or indifferent work. But we should OWN it. Not like #HansalMehta trying to earn some brownies from certain section of people. Common Hansal!! Grow up! I still have all our videos and pics of the shoot together!"

The director also defended his tweet and said, "Of course I own my mistakes Mr Kher. And I can admit that I made a mistake. Can’t I sir? I did my job as professionally as I was allowed to. Can you deny that? But it doesn’t mean I have to keep defending the film or that it makes me lose objectivity about my error of judgement. About brownie points and hypocrisy I respectfully submit that you seem to be evaluating people by the same yardstick you evaluate yourself."

Of course I own my mistakes Mr Kher. And I can admit that I made a mistake. Can’t I sir? I did my job as professionally as I was allowed to. Can you deny that? But it doesn’t mean I have to keep defending the film or that it makes me lose objectivity about my error of judgement.… https://t.co/UIgc4Pdvww

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 27, 2024

"And by the way @anupampkher sir… you can say all you want. Call me names if you wish. Apologies if I’ve inadvertently hurt you. Sending love to you. Whenever you wish we will speak and clear the air. I will not give space to trolls to distort this further and have a field day at our expense. Good night, belated X’mas greetings and a happy new year in advance. To you and to all the hyperactive trolls," he added.

And by the way @anupampkher sir… you can say all you want. Call me names if you wish. Apologies if I’ve inadvertently hurt you. Sending love to you. Whenever you wish we will speak and clear the air. I will not give space to trolls to distort this further and have a field day at… https://t.co/UIgc4PcXGY

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 27, 2024

The Accidental Prime Minister

‘The Accidental Prime Minister’, directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, starred Anupam Kher as Dr. Manmohan Singh. Hansal Mehta portrayed Naveen Patnaik. The film also featured Akshaye Khanna as Sanjaya Baru, Suzanne Bernert as Sonia Gandhi, Arjun Mathur as Rahul Gandhi, and Aahana Kumra as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Despite its notable cast, the film was met with harsh criticism and failed at the box office.