Pune Jan 22 PTI Actor Nana Patekar on Saturday defended NCP MP Amol Kolhe who is facing flak for playing Nathuram Godse in an upcoming film saying an artiste has the right to choose a roleHe himself had essayed the role of Mahatma Gandhis assassin in a TV series many years ago he reminiscedKolhe did that role when he was in another party and NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said this earlier Not many people know this but I had played Nathuram Godse around 30 years ago in British TV series Lord Mountbatten The Last Viceroy Patekar told reporters hereDoes it mean that I support the characters thoughts I am an artiste and got the role Its an artistes choice When one supports that characters ideology then questions can be asked but for an artiste it is his bread and butter he addedIn the film Why I Killed Gandhi directed by Ashok Tyagi Kolhe an actor-politician will be seen as Gandhis assassinThe film was shot in 2017 Kolhe who started his political innings with the Shiv Sena joined the NCP in 2019 PTI COR KRK KRK KRK

Mumbai Jan 21 PTI Nationalist Congress Party NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday came out in support of party MP and actor Amol Kolhe who is facing criticism for playing Nathuram Godse in an upcoming film Earlier party leader and Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad had taken potshots at Kolhe the MP from Shirur in western Maharashtra for playing Mahatma Gandhis assassin in the film Why I Killed Gandhi Dr Amol Kolhes decision to act in that movie should be seen as an artists choice If he played that role it does not mean he subscribes to Godses ideology or views Pawar told reporters If someone plays the role of Aurangzeb in a film it should not be seen as the actor becoming a supporter of the MughalsRavan abducted Sita in the Ramayana does it imply that the actor playing Ravan actually kidnapped her he added On party leader Awhad opposing the film Pawar said He must have expressed his personal opinion I dont need to respond to it Pawar also referred to Richard Attenboroughs acclaimed biopic Gandhi Because of Attenboroughs film the Mahatmas work could reach across continents The artist who played the role of Godse was an artist and his work should be seen as such the NCP chief said PTI ND KRK KRK KRK

Mumbai Jan 21 PTI Facing flak for playing Nathuram Godse in an upcoming film NCP MP Dr Amol Kolhe on Friday said he never endorsed the views and actions of Mahatma Gandhis assassinWhile NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad has targeted Kolhe over the issue opposition BJP sought to know the actor-turned-MPs exact stand on GodseKolhe the MP from Shirur in western Maharashtra who was earlier with the Shiv Sena issued a video message on FridayIt seems many people have got hurt because of my role as Godse in the Hindi movie Why I Killed GandhiI have never ever endorsed the act of Godse or his views against Mahatma Gandhi he saidExplaining the circumstances behind accepting the role he said that after playing Chhatrapati Shivaji he wanted to play Chhatrapati Sambhaji king Shivajis son on TV or in a filmHe received an offer for a serial on Sambhaji but the shooting got stalled after some days said Kolhe who is an MBBS graduateAround this time in 2017 he got the offer to play Godse in the film directed by Ashok Tyagi he saidActors like late Nilu Phule or Pran played negative roles in films but in real life they were progressive individuals Kolhe saidI repeat that I do not endorse the ideology or views of Godse he said adding he did not even promote the filmIn 2017 as an actor it was my need to get a role in films It should be understood and seen in that context the actor-turned-MP saidMaharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole meanwhile said his party condemns the endorsement and promotion of those who killed Gandhi State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said Kolhe should clarify his exact stand on Godse and his views because his leader NCP chief Sharad Pawar did not approve of Godses viewsBJP is totally against Godse and his actions Patil addedEarlier NCP leader and state housing minister Jitendra Awhad had said that even if Kolhe had played Godse in his capacity as actor it is indeed an endorsement of Godses views But Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil defended KolheDr Kolhe completed the shooting for the film in 2017 He joined NCP a few months before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections After that film Dr Kolhe has also played Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a Marathi serial People have accepted him as an actor as well as a parliamentarian Patil saidHis performance in the Lok Sabha is also good You can watch his speeches on YouTube He has also supported the views of great social reformers like Shahu Maharaj Jyotirao Phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar We do condemn the film on Godse he added PTI ND KRK KRK KRK

Mumbai Jan 21 PTI Actor and NCP MP Dr Amol Kolhe has invited criticism from his own partys leader for playing Nathuram Godse Mahatma Gandhis assassin in an upcoming filmThe issue has also sparked off a debate on social mediaNationalist Congress Party leader and Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad has hit out at the actor-turned-MP for endorsement of Godses viewsKolhe the MP from Shirur Lok Sabha constituency has said that playing a historical character does not necessarily mean idolizing or supporting that personWhy I Killed Gandhi a Hindi film starring Kolhe is scheduled to be released on OTT platforms on January 30 according to its trailerOn Friday minister and Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil tried to downplay the rowDr Kolhe completed the shooting for the film in 2017 He joined NCP a few months before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections After that film Dr Kolhe has also played Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a Marathi serial People have accepted him as an actor as well as a parliamentarian Patil saidHis performance in the Lok Sabha is also good You can watch his speeches on YouTube He has also supported the views of great social reformers like Shahu Maharaj Jyotirao Phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar We do condemn the film on Godse he addedEarlier after the trailer of the film came out NCP leader Awhad targeted Kolhe over the issueThe trailer says that Amol Kolhe has played the role of Nathuram Godse Even if he played Godse as an actor it is indeed an endorsement of his views You can not justify the killing of Gandhi under the guise of artist he saidSharad Ponkshe who played Godse in a controversial Marathi play and its director late Vinay Apte had faced severe criticism for glorifying Gandhis assassin Awhad notedOn Thursday Kolhe also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar to clarify his positionJust because I played that role it does not mean I endorse the views of the characterOne should not mistake reel life for real life he told reporters PTI ND KRK KRK KRK