‘I will miss the man with blue turban..,' Anupam Kher reflects on his memories of Manmohan Singh

With deep sorrow, the nation mourns the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, whose legacy of economic reforms, political integrity, and commitment to global diplomacy has left an indelible mark on the country's history. 

Among the many who have expressed their grief and respect for the late leader is actor Anupam Kher, who portrayed Dr. Singh in the critically acclaimed 2018 film The Accidental Prime Minister. Kher shared an emotional tribute to the former Prime Minister, remembering not only the man he portrayed on screen but also the profound impact Dr. Singh had on the nation and the world.

“Dr Manmohan Singh was inherently a good man- gentle, honest, brilliant and kind. When the film The Accidental Prime Minister came to me, I said no for many reasons, some of them being political. But today if I were to choose three or four performances of my entire career that I have done truthfully, I would choose this film.The subject may be controversial but the man was not,” he said.

The actor worked closely with Dr Singh to understand and study the nuances of the character he was set to portray in the film. He remarked that Manmohan Singh’s most beautiful quality was his ability to listen. 

The actor shared his deep sorrow about the man’s demise in a video note in which he also shared, “I will miss the man with the blue turban. The nation has lost a very honest human being and a great leader. May God rest his soul in peace.”

Dr Manmohan Singh, a pivotal figure in the making of modern India passed away on Thursday evening at AIIMS, Delhi. He was 92.