Kathmandu Some 30 years ago, when India’s publishing magnate Nari Hira asked noted film journalist, author and columnist Bharathi S Pradhan, which Indian celebrity would permit the most honest and readable biography, she had answered: “Shatrughan Sinha”. Thirty years later, after penning his biography Anything But Khamosh, she says her answer remains unchanged, and you feel it so true after meeting the actor/politician. A few hours before the Kathmandu release of the biography on September 7, as Pradhan got candid about her experience of penning the book with The Himalayan Times at Soaltee Crowne Plaza, the charismatic friend of hers would interrupt at times, only to add some truthful and witty answers. And once it was the Shotgun’s turn to answer the questions, he would not stop speaking, again giving frank and straightforward replies — of his journey into films and politics, and how he stood out becoming different from the rest. Seventy-year-old Sinha’s journey into the Indian film industry and politics is an amazing one — he has achieved success in both. “With my passion, commitment, dedication and struggle, I have reached the height where people desire to reach but most won’t make it,” he confidently expressed.   His film journey started when he went to the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune to study acting. Interested in films and acting as a child, he was studying in Patna Science College before joining the film institute. His passion for films was such that he went to the institute alone when he got the admission. “For the first time a boy went from Patna (Bihar) to Pune (Maharashtra) alone. For the first time he was living in the hostel,” recalled Sinha. After graduation, Sinha, a young boy with a scar on his face, headed to Mumbai. He didn’t have any acquaintance in the film industry, “leave aside a godfather”. In such a scenario, “someone” from the film industry suggested him to change his name Shatrughan Prasad Sinha “as it was complicated”. He proposed to remove “Prasad” only, but again that man said, “Even Satrughan Sihna won’t work”. Then director Mani Kaul told him, “‘Kaam chalega to naam chalega’, (if your work is good, your name will work). If people can remember Richard Burton and Rock Hudson, they will remember Shatrughan too.” So, he decided to keep his name Shatrughan Sinha. Kaul also gave him another mantra, “If you are going to the film industry, try and prove yourself as better than the best. In case you don’t become better than the best, at least try and be different from the rest.” He followed this mantra — and became the charismatic actor who would garner applause even when portraying the villain. Mere Apne (1971) was one such film. “I put the style in villain,” said Sinha, recalling, “That is why the great Khushwant Singh once wrote about me, ‘He is the first villain to bring romantic aura in films’”. Sinha started getting so popular that “I was writing columns, invited as chief guest in programmes and was quite famous among women but there was no vulgarity in me”. In a 1971 film called Paaras, he had done a rape scene. He was nominated for the best supporting actor’s award for it. “But I felt so disgusted that I decided not to do rape scenes ever. I felt it was against the respect of women.” It was 70s “and every film then had rape scene, with even distributors asking for such scenes”. It was difficult to handle the pressure and “I used to get some kind of punishment for that in many films.” But he was rewarded too, once. Sinha recalled, “In the film Babul Ki Galiyan, I was the villain — Hema Malini was heroine, and Sanjay Khan was the hero. They wanted to put a rape scene in, but I rejected. And I was the least-paid star in the film. When the film was released, everybody’s photo was three to four feet tall, while mine was 25 feet tall.” What happened next was that he was offered a role in SD Narang’s film Do Thug. “I was the hero, the heroine was Hema, and Sanjay was the clapper boy.” Sinha tasted major success with Subhash Ghai’s Kalicharan — a 1976 thriller that proved to be decisive in his career, and he did more hero roles after this. He also did films like Vishwanath (1976), Dostana (1980), Kaala Patthar (1979). In 1987 he delivered Khudgarz, another hit.   He continued acting in films in 90s, yet the frequency dropped, his interest was growing more in politics. When he forayed into politics, leaving behind fame, once again, he did not have any acquaintance there. Now it seems the actor-turned-politician enjoys his political life, politics becoming his mainstay now. “If I didn’t enjoy politics, I wouldn’t be here. It is my fourth term in the (Indian) Parliament, twice in Rajya Sabha, twice in Lok Sabha, and I have become full fledged cabinet minister.” And what does he like about politics more than films? “Films increase your stardom. Yet when there is problem tomorrow, they won’t call you to solve the problem because you are a film star.” But in politics, Sinha said, “public has a yardstick — your respect, dignity and popularity reaches another level if you move ahead with dignity, corruption-free image. You will be Anna Hazare, LK Advani, Jayaprakash Naryan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee if you move ahead from here. You can’t compare their popularity with the popularity of Shah Rukh Khan or Amitabh Bachchan. It is a different kind of popularity with tons of acceptability and respectability”. So, working in two different fields all these years, has be become the best — like Kaul suggested? “I am not sure whether I have become the best or not, but on this path to become different, not only have I shifted and switched from the peak of film to politics, I also attained more respectability than humble success even in politics. At least you won’t hear any kind of allegation in personal, family and political life of mine. It feels good.” Sinha credited all the success he has achieved because of “my confidence and passion”. And he wanted to tell his story to the world, which is why Anything But Khamosh has been released. Along with story of success, the book has a grey side as well. From his affair with his costar Reena Roy while he was married to his wife Poonam to cold war with Amitabh Bachchan, the book tells all with honesty. While doing so, Sinha said, “there is no attack on the dignity of women. Though I have mentioned friends and girlfriends, I have treated them as guru as they have contributed so much to my life. The book is not sensational. You may find some drama but no melodrama. It has motive and motivation.” So, what’s the motive of the book? “The motive of this book is to reach the larger section of the audience or people, especially younger generation. If they could identify with the book, my life would motivate them and encourage them,” he said. The Writer on Anything But Khamosh How long did it take to write the book? We (Sinha and Pradhan) have been friends for 40 years. This book as a culmination of that friendship — seven years was focused work on the book. But otherwise it is something that has actually taken 40 years. How has the book turned out to be? Sinha is an extremely honest man. He says it like it is. He is unafraid. It is alright to be honest but you have to be brave enough to say it. And he has that quality. An interesting aspect of his life is that he has been so successful — both as a film star and as a politician, he has reached the peak of both professions. Both are difficult professions and he has done both without any support from anybody. There is so much about his life that one has got to know. And this book has made one wonderful biography to write and to read. Was Shotgun ever reluctant to answer any question? No. I think it was when the friendship came into picture. Because right from the very beginning we were clear about what he is going to say, how much he is going to say and the first draft that I made was the final draft.