I am not cynical about my country: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Amidst the raging debate on intolerance in the country, filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says the issue has always been there and it is a part and parcel of a growing economy.
The 52-year-old "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" director said he is very proud of his country despite its many problems and feels as a citizen one has to constantly fight against odds to make things right.
"It is a continuous process to build a nation. There is no one answer to it. We have come so far, we have got independence, we have gone through economic slumps, we have gone through political upheavals, social changes and revolutions and there will be more. This is a part of it. We have to keep working towards it," Mehra told PTI.

"We can't give up and be cynical about it. I am not. We need to keep building. Yes, there will be good times and bad times. But that is what you have to fight. I am very proud of the country."
Another raging issue is the growing menace of the censor board but changing the chairman, Pahlaj Nihalani is not the solution, feels Mehra, who wants censorship to be abolished in totality.
"Censorship should be abolished. Why do we have censorship? It is not about Pahlaj or BJP or Congress. Let us not politicise it. It's a wrong thing.

"You can have film certification. You can ban a film. Let them fight in the court of law. You cannot start censoring. We want to make Pahlaj the scapegoat of it but it's the forefathers who started it. The cinematographic act of 1952 is wrong. The officers out there are playing by the book," he said.

Mehra extended his support to the protesting FTII students and urged them to not give up their fight. The director also said that the government should take note of the issue and resolve it as the students are the future filmmakers of the country.
"I hope they stick to their guns and don't give up. It's a very tough fight. Their back will be against the wall because soon the pressure will show. Because somewhere they will have to start studying otherwise they will be wasting a lot of time. But I wish them all the luck and I wish the government sees sense in this," Mehra said.

The "Rang De Basanti" director said the crisis should be resolved soon as there is always a way out.
"The students have my support and that does not mean the government does not have my support. They have my support in resolving this. We should resolve this and move on with life and make movies. These are the future filmmakers, and we have to safeguard their ideologies and their individuality. That cannot be compromised," Mehra said.