Nana Patekar on Rajinikanth joining politics: He needs to think about his decision seriously
| Updated: Jan 20, 2018, 10:42 IST
It was right at the end of last year that superstar Rajinikanth decided to make public his decision of joining politics, thus putting all the speculation surrounding the topic to rest. And while his close friend from Maharashtra, senior actor, Nana Patekar wished him all the best, he apparently was rather wary of the actor's decision.
While Nana is happy about his friend's bold decision, he thinks that Rajinikanth might have put his stardom at risk. He said, "He needs to think about his decision seriously. I told him, 'The people who love and worship you today, may question you once you join politics because you are giving them that right.' If political promises aren't fulfilled, the resulting agitation can affect his films as well." Nana who is now into activism and social work suggested that Rajini's plain-speak could come in his own way. "I told him that he is not politician (material). Merely staying good and honest is not enough. He is too simple; that's why I fear (for him). Politicians need to be manipulative, which we (Raniji and himself) are not capable of being," he continued.
Talking about himself and his decision to distance himself from the political field, he said, stems from the fear that his image as an actor might muddle matters. "Artistes should not form political parties or enter politics because the masses love them for the work they do on screen. If I join politics, and the people in my party err, I will be blamed for it. It isn't possible that everyone on the team be righteous. If an actor wants to join politics, she/he should stop acting. You can't mix the two," he said.
While Nana is happy about his friend's bold decision, he thinks that Rajinikanth might have put his stardom at risk. He said, "He needs to think about his decision seriously. I told him, 'The people who love and worship you today, may question you once you join politics because you are giving them that right.' If political promises aren't fulfilled, the resulting agitation can affect his films as well." Nana who is now into activism and social work suggested that Rajini's plain-speak could come in his own way. "I told him that he is not politician (material). Merely staying good and honest is not enough. He is too simple; that's why I fear (for him). Politicians need to be manipulative, which we (Raniji and himself) are not capable of being," he continued.
Talking about himself and his decision to distance himself from the political field, he said, stems from the fear that his image as an actor might muddle matters. "Artistes should not form political parties or enter politics because the masses love them for the work they do on screen. If I join politics, and the people in my party err, I will be blamed for it. It isn't possible that everyone on the team be righteous. If an actor wants to join politics, she/he should stop acting. You can't mix the two," he said.