Prakash Jha: All my films have politics, but I'll never make a film on a politician

During the New Delhi World Book Fair, whose theme is Republic@75, Prakash Jha said that his films are about the people, system, and society. The filmmaker, who has made films like Gangaajal (2003), Aarakshan (2011), Raajneeti (2010), and Jai Gangaajal (2016), stated that while all his films involve politics, he will never make a film on just one politician.

During a conversation at the book fair, he said, "Jo satta mein hota hai, main uske saamne khada hota hoon, uske saath nahi. My films are about society, the system, and politics."

'Eventually, I found everything in films'
Talking about why he chose to be a filmmaker, Prakash Jha said, "Eventually, I found everything in films - it has science, arts, psychology, country, and society. What you want to say, what you want to imagine, what you want to create - films have all that. Jo future mein hai, jo kisi ne nahi dekha - films ke through aap sab keh sakte hain. I always had that clarity. People say we struggled a lot - Aap ne koi ehsaan thodi na kiya, aap ne apna kaam kiya."

'Active politics was never my aim. I contested elections because I wanted the job of a Parliamentarian'

Prakash Jha contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, 2009, and 2014, and lost all three times. Speaking about why he chose to contest elections, he said, "Active politics was never my aim. I contested elections because I wanted the job of a Parliamentarian. I wanted this job because, year after year, especially in North India, maine dekha hai - jo Parliamentarian hote hain, unko apne wajood ka ehsas hi nahi hota. Unko pata hi nahi ki woh kya kar sakte hain. Election jeet zaroor jaate hain, lekin people’s representative ban kar kya kar sakte hain, yeh bahut saare Parliamentarians ko nahi pata."

Jha explained that when someone becomes a Parliamentarian, they gain access to national and foreign leaders, corporate executives, and numerous resources. If they have the will, they can bring real change to their constituencies. He said, "Hamare Parliament ke adhikansh (maximum) log kahin ek haajri (attendance) mein sikud jaate hain. Lekin jo asal kaam hota hai, woh kar nahi paate. Toh mujhe laga, usi wajah se yeh naukri mil jaye."

'If there were a UPSC exam to become a Parliamentarian, I would have definitely appeared for it'

He mentioned that he had set a time frame for himself. "Maine socha tha ki main 10 saal tak koshish karunga. But you can’t have that job of a Parliamentarian unless you win elections. If there were a UPSC exam to become a politician, I would have definitely appeared for it. I would have worked really hard. But why does a voter choose a politician? There are certain parameters for that. My next film's story is most likely about that parameter."