Filmmaker Prakash Jha who turns into a full-fledged actor with his upcoming film, Jai Gangaajal with actor Priyanka Chopra in the lead talked about the ever-changing relationship between the society and the police at the trailer screening in Ranchi on Monday. More than 12 years after Gangaajal and three years after Satyagraha, he is back with another story to tell that is aimed at exposing the criminal-politician nexus in Bihar, wherein this time the film focuses on the hot issue of land acquisition.
Jha stressed on the fact that women account for a total of about six per cent of the current population in the Indian police system that acts as the main reason for un compared discrimination and harassment. “Much has changed in the past 13 years when I made Gangaajal, the norm was that every society gets the kind of police officials as it deserves. But, the scenario is quite different where cops are following the policy of ‘inaction is virtue and efficiency is crime’,” said Jha.
“When a female IPS officer is brought in to this village of Bankepur in Bihar purely on assumptions that she would be a harmless woman officer, it turns out to be exactly the opposite of the plan. Unfortunately for the corrupt politicians and right before the upcoming elections, she turns out to be a woman with a mind of her own. When she acts on the same, it leads to a major conflict with intense result. That’s the film,” said the filmmaker.
Jha said that if the film can motivate young women to come forward and choose joining the defense and the police in the future that would mean success for him. “I hope this film motivates young women of our country to be bold and strong for their own benefit, especially when the entire country is talking about women empowerment. I have also tried to portray the dark, ugly truth of the dirty politics behind forced land grabbing that’s happening in almost every part of the country and we all keep reading about the same in the newspapers,” added Jha.
He also hinted that a light story can be announced soon under his banner and people might be able to see a new avatar of him, who might also act in the same. He also said that shooting in Bihar and Jharkhand can also be in his list of plans, soon.
Manav Kaul who stars in a negative role in the film commented on the hot topic of land acquisition. “All exploitations are political in nature. Politicians want supremacy and instill fear in the minds and hearts of the common people. I hope this film raises another important question in the society like Prakash Jha’s every film,” said Kaul.
Priyanka has donned the khaki uniform for an intense and strong role. The film, which will release worldwide on March 4, 2016, also features actor Ajay Devgn, who was in the first movie as well.
The film has been produced by Prakash Jha Productions and Play Entertainment. It also stars Manav Kaul, Rahul Bhat, Murli Sharma and Ninand Kamath.