Anupam Kher Trolled After “The Accidental Prime Minister” Actor Pays Tribute To Manmohan Singh

Actor Anupam Kher expressed his condolences after the death of former Prime Minister and storied economist Dr. Manmohan Singh in a social media post. But netizens criticised the actor for using Singh as a tool for political commentary and disrespecting him in the 2019 film The Accidental Prime Minister.

Kher played the role of Singh in the Vijay Ratnakar Gutte directorial, which was widely called out to be a ‘propaganda’ film made in an attempt to tarnish the former prime minister’s image with a “caricature-like” portrayal.

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“Deeply saddened to know about the demise of former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh! Having studied him for more than a year for the movie The Accidental Prime Minister, it felt that I actually spent that much time with him. He was inherently a good man. Personally completely honest, great economist and a very humble person. Some can say may be not an astute politician! My heartfelt condolences to his family. Om Shanti!,” tweeted the actor in an X post.

He also shared a video of him talking about choosing to do the film and the process of portraying the role of Singh in the film. The actor also praised Singh for being “kind,” “honest,” and a “great leader.”

Deeply saddened to know about the demise of former #PrimeMinister of India #DrManmohanSingh! Having studied him for more than a year for the movie #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister, it felt that I actually spent that much time with him. He was inherently a good man. Personally… pic.twitter.com/y6ekLH5owr

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) December 27, 2024

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However, netizens were quick to criticise Kher and call him out for his actions. One X user called Kher’s film a “smear campaign” against Singh. “In doing it not only did you disrespect the great man, you flushed your own illustrious acting career’s last few years down the drain making a vehicle for political propaganda. Don’t shed crocodile tears,” said a user.

“Hope he is hanging his head in shame for his worst movie and performance, where he tried and failed to play the role of India’s greatest economic architect,” said another social media user.

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“Had your year long study yielded any meaningful results you would have denied being part of any politically motivated smear campaign and propaganda against one of the learned man, great economist, humble gentleman and the finest Statesman world has ever seen. Hope you must be feeling ashamed of it,” said one person.

Another social media user said, “you made a pure propaganda movie for stupid Bhakts to defame & insult Manmohan Singh and tarnish his image, and now showing fake concern and tears here, HAVE SOME SHAME!!!!”

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“Kher saab, you know it was a successful political campaign and not a movie. Please do not disrespect the man when he has passed away. He has done more good to a entire generation just by being an economist,” said another user.

Widely criticized as a propaganda piece, The Accidental Prime Minister was accused of reducing the late leader’s complexity to a caricature of meekness and subservience.

Dr. Manmohan Singh died on Thursday night at the age of 92. He is widely attributed as the architect of the Indian economy for transforming and making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Despite facing challenges such as the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2012 Delhi gang rape, among others, Singh is generally credited with leading India through a period of economic growth and social development.