And amused.
During this season of the Lok Sabha elections that brilliant actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has taken on the added responsibility of hosting a television show for a new channel .The show takes him on a pre-poll survey among the aam junta and leading politicians of several North Indian cities.
In Patna on Thursday mingling with the masses and the netas, the abhineta was denied a durbar with Nitish Kumar. But Nawaz did manage to meet Laloo Yadav.
But it was a borderline bizarre encounter.
Says Nawaz, `I had gone with high hopes. The pre-election series that I'm doing entitled Kehta Hai India gives me a chance to understand the emotions of the voters and the netas. I couldn't meet Nitishji. But I did meet Lalooji. But it was a useless encounter. He didn't answer even one of my questions.I'd ask him a question and he'd reply with a completely different answer.For example ,I wanted to know why he had pitched his daughter against her uncle in the elections. He behaved as if I hadn't asked the question at all.
It was as if he had made up his mind about what he had to say irrespective of what I ask. I felt I was communicating with someone on another planet.`
Nawaz says the entire experience of connecting with the public and politicians has been an eye-opener. `I've visited Patna, Lucknow, Jaipur and a few other cities. Everywhere there's a lot of disappointment with the politics of our country.I have interacted with a lot of young people. They all feel the time is right for a change. They all want to be part of the change. But they don't know how.` Nawaz feels it's better for entertainers to try to make a difference to society from out parliament.He says this show that he's hosting is his contribution to the political change that the nation needs urgently. `I can't be part of active politics. I can't stand the elections because I can't understand politics. I am right now focusing on my career. I can't do more than one thing at the same time.I felt by taking up this show where I go from city to city collecting the opinions of the electorate and politicians I am part of that process to bring about a change.`
It hasn't been easy making time in his schedule for this Bharat yatra. But Nawaz says there are responsibilities that every citizen must take up seriously.
`Luckily I've a voice now. When I mingle with the people on the streets they listen to me and give thoughtful answers. I am at an advantage because though I am recognizable actor people see me as a man of the masses. They do ask me about films when I speak to them about politics. But only after they've answered my questions,` says Nawazuddin.
