Veteran actor Om Puri may have passed away in January 2017 but the actor continues to live in the hearts of his audiences and fans.
In an interview, which has recently surfaced online, Om Puri shared his thoughts on the Pakistan-India partition and encouraged warm relations between the two.
The interview was in connection to Puri’s film Lashtam Pashtam for which he wrapped up shooting just six days before his death. The film is set to hit theatres on August 10.
In the interview, conducted by the movie’s director Manav Bhalla, Puri spoke at length about his character as a Pakistani taxi driver who helps an Indian youngster.
Speaking about his character, Puri said, “I play a Pakistani taxi driver. An Indian who is lost in Pakistan wishes to go to Islamabad, which is burning due to bomb blasts, asks my character to take him there. I initially refuse him but the youngster is so desperate that the taxi driver decides to help him despite knowing the risks attached.”
When asked about the message he wants to impart through his character, Puri shared, “My character itself is giving out a message. Manav has written it in such a way that tells people that hatred should end as it has no specific reason and we are fighting forcefully. We are all humans and have stayed together for years. Mughal rulers stayed here for almost 600 years. Before independence, we all stayed together and learnt each other’s etiquettes. Yes, there have been some issues but there is a dialogue in the film which gives the message that issues happen at home also: among Hindu brothers and even among relatives.”
The actor stressed on the sacrifices both the countries have made since partition and urged people to remind themselves of the same.
He said, “When the partition happened, brothers thought that let one brother stay this side and other on the other side and this won’t change much as they can come anytime on each other’s side. But they never thought the situation would become so bad. So this partition was the partition of relationships, emotions, and feelings and it’s a really painful thing.”
“People have to reminded of this again and again — that we must live and let live as we have sacrificed a lot during the partition,” he added.
