Aamir visits S. Africa to promote 'Mangal Pandey'

Durban, Aug 10 (IANS) Aamir Khan paid a fleeting visit to this coastal city which is home to the majority of South Africa's 1.2 million Indians to promote his latest film, "Mangal Pandey - The Rising", which opens worldwide Friday.

Aamir, accompanied by British actor Toby Stephens and director Ketan Mehta, interacted with the media at a press conference that was also broadcast live by the national Indian radio service Lotus FM.

He said the cast and crew were "extremely relieved" at the excellent reception that "The Rising" got at the Locarno Film Festival, but said the 8,000 people there were mainly Italians, Germans, French and Swiss audiences.

"What I'm really looking forward to now is the response of the Indian audience, whose history this film is about, and the British audience. This is part of the history of India and the UK, and I'm really looking forward to the response of the audiences from there," Aamir said.

The actor admitted that very little had been recorded about freedom fighter Mangal Pandey, a sepoy in the British East India Company who took to arms and was hanged within a week of being court-martialled.

"I did a lot of reading about that period and absorbed the atmosphere then; the socio-economic and religious background of Mangal. He became an inspiration for all Indians after him to fight for freedom."

Commenting on the huge moustache and long hair, which he had to grow for the role, Aamir said: "What was primary for me was to get into the head of the character. That includes his physical appearance."

But he admitted that some dramatic license had been used: "Not that we have any authenticated photographs of Mangal, so I used my imagination and I felt when I read the script that this is somebody who should look a little wild and I thought long hair and a moustache would go well with that."

Reacting to a comment by the master of ceremonies, Lotus FM presenter Varshan Sookhun, on the good quality of the music of the film, Aamir said he had initially been reluctant to sing in one of the songs in the film, but music director A.R. Rahman and director Ketan Mehta had convinced him to do it.

But in response to another question by Sookhun about whether he would accept any award if "The Rising" got any, an obviously irritated Aamir retorted: "Are you referring to the one million awards held by various film magazines? No! I will not be attending them. I have not changed my mind on that."

Aamir was referring to his derision of Indian film awards, event to the extent that he refused to accept the awards made to his film "Lagaan" at the IIFA Awards in South Africa four years ago, although he attended the premiere of the film there.

British actor Stephens, who plays officer William Gordon in "The Rising", said working on the film was "a fantastic experience".

"When I got into the film I did not know what to expect, but I loved the script and the character and his relationship with Mangal Pandey. I had the most extraordinary experience making this film. I think in terms of experiences in my career, it's the one I will remember the most vividly."

Stephens said he had to learn Hindi for the Hindi version of the film, although the English version posed no problem.

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Mangal Pandey - The Rising