Actor Manu Rishi Chadha, known for his portrayal of General Pervez Musharraf in the film 'Operation Safed Sagar', has been experiencing a wide range of reactions to his performance. While some viewers have expressed their discontent with the actor's depiction of the former Pakistani president, others have reached out to him with words of appreciation and admiration.
In an interview with HT City, Chadha revealed that his message box and social media are filled with comments and direct messages from viewers who have been impacted by his performance. Some have even gone so far as to express their conflicting emotions towards the actor, with one viewer stating that they both want to hug and slap him for his portrayal of Musharraf. Chadha laughed off the comment, saying that he is flattered by the reaction and believes that it is a testament to the impact of his performance.
Chadha acknowledged that he was aware from the start that his portrayal of Musharraf would be met with criticism. However, he chose to focus on the positive responses he received, saying that the hate mail he received was also a sign that his work was appreciated. He noted that many viewers were reaching out to him with the message 'Manu bhai, jitni nafrat thi (Musharraf) woh double ho gaya par aapse pyar ho gaya! I want ki woh nafrat bahi rahe,' which translates to 'Manu bhai, the hatred for Musharraf has doubled but I have fallen in love with your performance! I wish the hatred would stay away.'
Getting into the skin of Musharraf was not an easy task for Chadha. He chose not to rely on references or research, instead opting to focus on the human side of the character. Chadha credited his director, Oni Sen, and creators, Abhijeet Parmar and Kushal Srivastava, for their confidence in him and their guidance throughout the process.
Chadha revealed that he sought advice from fellow actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who had played the role of Saadat Hasan Manto in a film. Siddiqui had no reference points for the character except for his photo and work, and yet he managed to create a compelling performance. Inspired by Siddiqui's approach, Chadha decided to focus on the human side of Musharraf, rather than his persona. The team worked on the physical aspects of the character, but Chadha chose to stay away from mimicking Musharraf's mannerisms or speech patterns.
Chadha explained that his process involved immersing himself in the character, starting with the uniform and then becoming true to it and the country of Pakistan. He started to believe that he was Musharraf, who was loyal and honest to his country, his extreme hatred for India, and his mission in Kashmir. Chadha's nervous energy helped him focus and stay in character during filming.
During the shoot, Chadha made a conscious effort to stay away from talking and meeting people, choosing instead to focus on his role. He revealed that he would switch off when he saw Indian flags or met people, and that this experience taught him the importance of switching on and off for a character. Chadha also noted that he did not improvise on his character, unlike in his previous roles, and that he stuck to the script.
Chadha's dedication to his role has paid off, with many viewers praising his performance. His unique approach to playing Musharraf has left a lasting impact on the audience, and his ability to balance hate and love has made him a standout in the film.
