"When Slumdog Millionaire can, why can't Gandhi To Hitler?" - Neha Dhupia

Slumdog Millionaire is back in focus yet again. Ever since its release, the multiple Oscar winning film by Danny Boyle has found itself be a subject of debate amongst various quarters. This time around it's the turn of Neha Dhupia who has been left wondering that when illiterate characters in Slumdog Millionaire could be shown speaking in English, why are fingers being raised on her speaking in Hindi for Gandhi To Hitler where she plays a German?

"She really feels that all this finger pointing is uncalled for, especially since the makers of Gandhi To Hitler are relatively new in the industry and are just trying to make a good film. The entire so- called issue of her as well as Raghuveer Yadav (who plays Hitler in the film) speaking in Hindi is uncalled for since at the end of the day, it is the story telling that matters and not the spoken language", says a friend of Neha.

Neha's turmoil is understandable since this is her first ever biopic and that too in the challenging role of Eva Braun who was the long-time companion of Adolf Hitler and even his wife, albeit for less than 40 hours. With the intent being to bring on screen those last few days of Hitler when he spent some heartfelt moments with Eva, accusations around the language bit are turning out to be frustrating for Neha.

Says Neha, "No, we haven't spoken in German throughout the film because we didn't feel the need to do it. I don't think many minded the fact that uneducated poor characters in Slumdog Millionaire spoke in fluent English. I am not saying we should have objected to that. But then if we accepted that, there is no reason why Hitler or Eva can't speak in Hindi. After all once you are 10 minutes into a film, language becomes rudimentary."

She is also pretty vociferous of the fact that the makers of Gandhi To Hitler stuck to their conviction and ended up making the product that they wanted instead of compromising on any means.

"In this industry the moment you get hold of some funds, you want to make a rom-com or some other film which can afford a saleable star. Hats off to the makers here who stuck to the subject and aspired to narrate an untold story instead of taking a safe route. It is so unfair when instead of coming out with good support for such ventures, some of us are challenging the language part. Can we not get trapped in this mentality please", pleads Neha before signing off.