Mumbai, Maharashtra: Actor Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta & Director Ben Rekhi Talk to IANS About upcoming film 'Last Man in Tower'. They shared insights into their roles in the upcoming film. Manoj Bajpayee spoke about his role in the film and playing someone elder to him in age. While Divya spoke about her pursuit as artist. Director Ben Rekhi spoke about the timeline from reading the book to making the film. Manoj and Divya also shared their memories of working on 'Veer-Zaara'. Other part of Manoj talking about facing discrimination as Bihar native is already used.
Actor Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta and director Ben Rekhi spoke to IANS about their upcoming film 'Last Man in Tower'. The team shared insights into their respective roles and the journey of bringing the film to the screen. Manoj Bajpayee opened up about his character and the experience of portraying someone older than his actual age. Divya Dutta spoke about her journey and aspirations as an artist, while director Ben Rekhi discussed the timeline of the project, from first reading the book to adapting it into a film. Manoj Bajpayee and Divya Dutta also revisited their memories of working together on 'Veer-Zaara'. The segment featuring Manoj Bajpayee discussing discrimination he faced for being from Bihar has already been used.
#ManojBajpayee #DivyaDutta #BenRekhi #LastManInTower #LastManInTowerMovie #VeerZaara #BollywoodNews #UpcomingFilm #EntertainmentNews #Bollywood #IANS #MovieInterview #HindiCinem
Actor Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta and director Ben Rekhi spoke to IANS about their upcoming film 'Last Man in Tower'. The team shared insights into their respective roles and the journey of bringing the film to the screen. Manoj Bajpayee opened up about his character and the experience of portraying someone older than his actual age. Divya Dutta spoke about her journey and aspirations as an artist, while director Ben Rekhi discussed the timeline of the project, from first reading the book to adapting it into a film. Manoj Bajpayee and Divya Dutta also revisited their memories of working together on 'Veer-Zaara'. The segment featuring Manoj Bajpayee discussing discrimination he faced for being from Bihar has already been used.
#ManojBajpayee #DivyaDutta #BenRekhi #LastManInTower #LastManInTowerMovie #VeerZaara #BollywoodNews #UpcomingFilm #EntertainmentNews #Bollywood #IANS #MovieInterview #HindiCinem
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FunTranscript
00:00So hello everyone, welcome to NS, and congratulations for Last Man in Tower that's about to release on September 11.
00:05My first question is for the captain of the ship, the director.
00:08If you could help me understand how did you get the idea,
00:11and eventually how did you build the entire world around the characters, the premise, and the values that these characters
00:17have?
00:19Like so many people, I was really struck by Arvind Adiga's voice when it first came out with White Tiger.
00:26And it was a friend that put me onto this book initially, and I was hooked.
00:32Where White Tiger is this kind of loud scream, this one is a much more muted whisper,
00:37but in some ways so much more powerful because of it.
00:41And I was able to get in touch with Mr. Adiga and convince, plead my case to him why I
00:48would take good care of this project.
00:50And it was a long courtship to get him on board.
00:54But he eventually came on, and then Suni, the screenwriter, started working with on this.
01:01And she really brought this wisdom of just being such a veteran, and like being able to look at the
01:08book and say,
01:08these are the important parts because it's such a sprawling tale, it's such an ensemble, there's so many characters.
01:14And Suni, one of the best things she taught me is, you know, with an adaptation,
01:18at least someone has already climbed the mountain once before, so even you have to forge a new path, you
01:24know where you're going.
01:25And that's very different than staring at a blank page.
01:28And so there was a many-year process.
01:31And then also, when thinking of the main character, there was no one but Manoj that could play this,
01:37because it's such a complicated, nuanced, grey.
01:41You like him, you dislike him, you understand him, you're frustrated with him, you're cheering for him.
01:46And so many things are going on, and very few people have the tools in their kit like Manoj does.
01:53And this is also a long campaign to talk and get on board.
01:59We met in New York, we met in LA, we met in San Francisco.
02:03And, you know, he's very selective for a reason.
02:06You know, his body of work is extraordinary because of the choices that he makes.
02:10And same with Divya.
02:11And so it was really when the cast came on board that it started to take shape.
02:16And the thing I'm most proud of is the cast, the ensemble, what they brought to this,
02:21and the kind of subtlety and power that comes with it.
02:25Because there's so many different ways you can take something like this and make it overstated,
02:30but the morally grey area is something that, you know, people with a wider range that have so many different
02:36tools with them,
02:38not everyone has that. A lot of people play in one frequency and they're known for that.
02:42But these two are like industry legends because for a reason they can,
02:47they have so many different representations of their skills.
02:51So very excited to see what they've done for everyone to see what they've done.
02:55And my next question is for Divya ma'am. If you could help me understand the world that your character
02:59comes from,
03:00the value system that she has, anything on the periphery that could guide me through her world.
03:04I think Sangeeta could have been any other woman who's striving to make life more comfortable,
03:10who's been really pressured with so many things that have been, you know, thrust on her.
03:17Be it the situation in the house, she has a child with special needs.
03:23Maybe there's no communication with the husband.
03:27Maybe, I mean, she's just been unkempt for a while and she doesn't even realize it.
03:32These are little things that, I mean, for a woman would have been so important.
03:37But because the whole day-to-day life takes the better of her,
03:41she probably stopped living a certain way.
03:44It's like, okay, this is routine. This is happening.
03:47It can be frustrating. It can be vulnerable. You could be angry about it.
03:50But there's no way that you talk about it.
03:53It is your own battle within every day.
03:57And then comes hope of a slight better future.
04:00And how her relationship with Masterji, who she really looks up to,
04:04kind of, you know, takes a toll on the whole relationship
04:10because of that little opportunity, I won't say little opportunity,
04:13that comes, which tells her maybe things could be better tomorrow.
04:17But the thing is, does it take the better of her?
04:22Does she know where to stop?
04:24Does she know what exactly is her happiness?
04:28All those colors coming together, all those shades coming together,
04:32makes Sangeeta who she is.
04:34Where you feel probably, I know this woman.
04:36Vulnerable, protective, greedy.
04:41You could feel for her. You could be against her.
04:44It's for you to decide because there are no rights and wrongs.
04:46There are grays. And these are those important places
04:50where you as an audience judge whose side do I take.
04:55And so hence, it feels nice when a character takes a graph
04:59where you have all those shades and more.
05:02And with every scene that you do, you find a different you.
05:06So that's, I think, fun being on the set as well,
05:10where you, with the director, with the Manoj Pajpayee,
05:15when you think and sit and work on the scenes,
05:19something really different that you didn't even expect happens on the set.
05:24So that, I think, has been a sheer joy playing Sangeeta.
05:28And, sir, with regards to your character,
05:30playing a character which is much older to you than in age,
05:33of course, you have a lot of experience as an artist, as a human being.
05:37But to get there, to get into his headspace, what does it take from you as an artist?
05:42You know, playing in age is not something that we actors are so bothered about.
05:50But what we are mostly bothered about is the layers that we can touch.
05:57The depth of the characters.
05:58The depth of the characters.
05:59And, you know, I'm talking about the layers.
06:01There are so many. All the characters are like audience, like a human being.
06:04Okay.
06:05To find those layers is a very difficult thing.
06:09There is a backstory. There is a characterization.
06:12I mean, you go through the script.
06:13The script is throwing up so many ideas.
06:17And on that basis, you are, you know, jotting it down.
06:20And you are trying to make a backstory which is full of grays,
06:24full of nuances, full of layers.
06:26But still there are many layers you find out when you are doing it.
06:31Yeah.
06:31Just the setting, just the energy of the co-actor, the manner she is, you know, tackling her character.
06:41You know, it is actually forcing you or compelling you to open up more as an actor, more as a
06:48performer.
06:48So there, and the way they are treating my character is also giving me an idea to have few more
06:58layers to it.
06:59Right.
06:59Right.
07:00Yeah.
07:00So it's an ongoing process.
07:05Acting never stops.
07:07The whole process never stops before shoot.
07:11It actually, with shoot, it starts taking off.
07:16Okay.
07:17Yeah.
07:17And sometime in a very new direction where preparation actually didn't go at all.
07:23So it's a, and that's the journey into unknown is something I find quite fascinating.
07:29Yeah.
07:30So first you are scared that you have to take a plunge into this dark.
07:38And then once you are there, you start enjoying it.
07:43That is.
07:45What does that fear do to you to, right before taking the plunge into the black hole?
07:49Oh, my God.
07:50I mean, it's a, sometime you want to say no to it.
07:54Sometime you just want to call Ben and Ben.
07:56Yaar nahi.
07:57I think I'm not right.
07:59I think I'm not right.
08:02Sometimes.
08:03Because you're scared.
08:04Yeah.
08:05Because you know that there is a dark dungeon there.
08:08Yaar nahi.
08:08You know the dark side of the character that you will have to deal with.
08:12Yaar nahi.
08:13It's not easy.
08:14That's why I love actors.
08:15Yaar nahi.
08:15Not that, you know, because now I am an actor, I know what others go through.
08:21Yaar nahi.
08:21Yaar nahi.
08:22I love them because they have the ability to, you know, embrace the dark side of themselves.
08:26First they embrace their own dark side, then only they can relate to the character's dark side.
08:33True.
08:33So we are very, they are brutal with them, themselves.
08:36They may not tell you, why should we tell you about our dark side?
08:41It's a very private thing, it's a very personal thing.
08:44Yaar nahi.
08:45But if we are doing those roles which has so much of grace, so many layers, if I am not
08:52in the process of understanding myself or knowing myself, I cannot understand the characters that I am playing.
08:59Never.
09:00I have to first know it, understand it, relate to it, then only I can.
09:06So, Masterji is that kind of a character.
09:12He is, he looks very right and wrong and, but his, if you get into his backstory, that you only
09:20come to know through his son, where he comes from.
09:24What he, he had this fascination, addiction to be the good person in the family, the bigger person in the
09:38family.
09:38He always tried to live up to those expectations.
09:42Now, in doing that, somewhere he left, he ignored his own immediate family.
09:51And that is something, he always thought that, you know, I have done such a great favour, I have helped
09:57my brother so much.
09:59But when son points it out, the whole feeling great about yourself, you know, it comes down collapsing.
10:07Yeah.
10:09So, it's a, that's, that's human being.
10:12They say, these are the things that we do.
10:15Sometimes we get addicted to our own greatness.
10:19Yeah.
10:20And stop realizing that your so-called greatness is actually, you know, creating so much of a problem for others.
10:31Yeah.
10:31Absolutely.
10:32True.
10:33The human being, at the end of the day, we are filled with miseries and filled with, you know, suspense.
10:43There is, there is always a process of knowing, knowing yourself first.
10:48And yeah, character like Masterji gives you that chance.
10:51Mm-hmm.
10:52More than you are trying to understand the character, you are trying to understand yourself.
10:57Yeah.
10:57You know.
10:59Okay.
11:00Okay.
11:00And Ben, after reading the book, how long did it take?
11:04Like, I'm sure the idea might have incubated in your mind for a long period of time.
11:08From putting the book down to finally taking the call that, you know, this needs to be made into film.
11:13How long was the entire timeline?
11:15Reading the book to deciding it needs to be a film was very fast.
11:19Right when I finished reading it, I was like, my God, this is so cinematic.
11:22From that point, it was 10 years.
11:24Oh.
11:25I didn't get it to the screen.
11:27But you know, I really believe that things happen at the right moment.
11:31Yeah, absolutely.
11:32And this film is coming into the world just at the moment that the world is ready to receive
11:37it and needs to see it.
11:39I think, you know, just listening to Manoj talk, like the thing that's so complex about
11:45this book is that we tell ourselves, you know, oh, we shouldn't care what other people think.
11:50We should just live our lives and not worry, be too concerned with other people's impression.
11:55The reality is we're all deeply concerned with what other people think about us.
12:00And that's there since status of like the tribes.
12:03It's always been there.
12:04And the thing about Master G that makes him so complicated is that the way he views himself
12:10comes in direct conflict to how other people see him.
12:13And that's very destabilizing as a person.
12:16I think one of the scariest moments is realizing you're not who you thought you were or people
12:21don't see you the way that you see yourself.
12:23And that's a very scary moment.
12:25Yeah, I didn't know that.
12:25And these two actors together, I think the other thing that great actors do is it's not
12:33outwardly performing.
12:34It's deeply listening to what the other actor is doing.
12:38Great acting is actually reacting.
12:40And these two, when you put them together, there's such a spontaneity that happens.
12:44Each take is different.
12:46They're looking at each other.
12:47They're picking up cues.
12:48I know spoiled for choices while these two are like going at each other.
12:51Yeah, yeah, yeah.
12:52It's quite intense.
12:53It's quite intense because they've known each other so long.
12:57And the friendships that are lost, the betrayals that happen, they feel very real.
13:03But they're also quite heartbreaking.
13:05I mean, there's another scene where Master G is betrayed by one of his best friends.
13:11And what Manoj does in that scene, it kills me every time.
13:15Because you're seeing a lifelong friendship crumble before your eyes.
13:19I get emotional just thinking about it.
13:21But it's quite heartbreaking.
13:23Yeah, yeah.
13:24And that's the power of this.
13:25It feels so relatable.
13:26We've all gone through that where we've lost friends that we love and feel betrayed.
13:31So it feels very honest.
13:33And Ma'am, for you, acting also involves a large part of technicalities, you know, like
13:38taking light on you, looking into the co-actor's eyes from what I remember how Michael Caine put it up.
13:44For someone of your stature, your experience, when does a performance stops being technical and more raw, doing justice to
13:50what is needed from the paper or from the character?
13:53Well, technicality, first of all, as long as I know my basics that I'm delivering and it's seen.
13:59Because there was a time when I, you know, you don't know, you're doing your best, but you're not even
14:03looking at it.
14:04And I had my seniors holding my hand there and saying, listen, I'm not looking at it.
14:09So I've been fortunate that way.
14:12And to know these things, you learn with time.
14:15You know that.
14:15So this, you know, they also say, get your lines out of the way, get the technicalities out of the
14:21way, and then just belong.
14:24And just let that, the magic of the moment happen to you.
14:29Like Ben just said, if I'm looking in his eyes, every take probably would be different.
14:34Every take, when I look into his eyes, it would evoke a different emotion for me.
14:40It could probably go up.
14:42It could probably go down.
14:43And it sometimes surprises you.
14:45Yeah.
14:46So you need to let that happen.
14:49If you get very inhibited and feel, no, no, this is the daira I have given this role.
14:54Yeh aisa hi hoga.
14:56Too limited.
14:56You just need to let it flow and surprise yourself.
15:00Sometimes I thought, you know, Sangeeta was a certain way.
15:04And then going on the set, discussing, chatting, being on the set, reacting, just listening.
15:13Tells you, can I react a little differently to this?
15:17Maybe I can leave my pichla thought and take the new one.
15:21So the art of letting go of what you came with the preconceived notions to being open to what the
15:28whole set has to offer.
15:29To the set, to your costumes, to that moment, to anyone who's just there reacting a certain way and you
15:37picking it up.
15:38I think most of the magic is created there.
15:41So I think my job is taking and absorbing that and letting the role hold my hand.
15:48Are you hyper aware, like with a heightened sense of whatever is going on around you while you're on set,
15:53compared to your normal life at home or at other places?
15:56I'm hyper aware everywhere.
15:59True.
16:00That's the honest answer.
16:02I am.
16:04I might not say it, but I'm aware.
16:06It's, it's, it's, yeah.
16:08I mean, some people are more, I mean, you're sensitive to things, you absorb more.
16:12You know, every one has a personality.
16:14I am hyper aware.
16:16So I can't do anything.
16:20And Manoj sir, you said that, you know, this fear before taking the plunge.
16:24Now that's one part of it.
16:26After you have gone through it, you are a different person.
16:28You have put many things behind you, accomplished a lot of stuff.
16:32How does it make you feel getting over that part?
16:34You know, that sense of accomplishment.
16:36What does it do to you as an artist?
16:37It's too humiliated.
16:43Yeah, because there is a sense of, on a very serious note, there is a sense of achievement.
16:52Of course.
16:53Okay.
16:54And when you work with so many creative people in tandem and, you know, in sync, you are enriched.
17:06Whether you, you know, you immediately feel it or not.
17:12All of that experience has added so much to your personality and so much to your creative side.
17:21There is an actor, very senior actor called Dhru sir.
17:27Dhru.
17:28He was there in this film as Mr. Pinto.
17:31Oh.
17:32Haan.
17:33So he is from FTII.
17:39So I have always seen him, I have seen him from his first film.
17:43Right.
17:44He was in Hum Panch, I think.
17:46Uday.
17:46Uday.
17:47Uday.
17:47Sorry.
17:48Uday.
17:50I am so sorry.
17:51How can I forget?
17:52Phenomenal actor.
17:53So.
17:53Oh.
17:54Phenomenal actor.
17:55And I just, I have learned a great deal just observing him off the camera.
18:04Yeah.
18:07And every day that used to be my, you know, a kind of a pastime, just observing him.
18:18How he is dealing with his time when he is not working, when he is not required in front
18:25of the camera.
18:27What is he doing with himself?
18:29He is a very quiet person.
18:31But the moment he is in front of the camera, he is aware.
18:37He is prepared.
18:40Sometime he is over prepared.
18:42And he has the ability to surprise you so much with his response, with his silences.
18:50So you learn so much, so much.
18:54And so when you, when the film is over, it's not only a film which is over.
19:00There is a new chapter of you which is opening up.
19:02True.
19:03As an actor and as a person.
19:06Okay.
19:08And moving further, my next question is for both of you, the actors.
19:11There is this one film which I really, really love as a millennial, including the music and
19:15which is Veer Zara.
19:16Both of you have worked on that film.
19:18Very fond memories of that film I have.
19:20If you could walk me through the process of working with you.
19:23I mean, two scenes.
19:25But so powerful.
19:26How many powerful are you?
19:27How many powerful are you?
19:29How many powerful are you?
19:31It made an impression on him.
19:33It shaped his childhood.
19:36Okay.
19:37See, I enjoyed myself.
19:39You know, for three days I was there.
19:41One day at Film City and two days in Amritsar.
19:48So it was quite good.
19:51Three, four days I shot those two, three sequences that I had.
19:55And the biggest advantage was that I was working for Mr. Yashopra.
20:00I always wanted to work with him.
20:02But he told me very honestly that he doesn't make films for actors like me.
20:08And he was very candid about it.
20:11I didn't mind it at all.
20:12Because, you know, if there's somebody that honest, you just love them for their honesty.
20:18He didn't promise me anything.
20:21But I was very happy just facing the camera under his direction.
20:29I got a few days to spend with him and he took great care of me.
20:35Great care.
20:36I mean, in terms of my food habit, my, you know, the party, everything.
20:42He just treated me, he got everybody together to party with me in the evening in Amritsar.
20:49Manoj is a guest, so everybody should be really there, you know, all of that.
20:53So sweet.
20:55So it's a…
20:56And I was expecting nothing from the role.
20:59But what I see that, you know, because it was a Yashopra film,
21:05because there was a superstar in the film,
21:09because it was a highly anticipated film,
21:15the eyeballs were there, you know.
21:18Yes, I'm not.
21:19Please.
21:19You're being so modest now.
21:21I know.
21:24That role has gone on to become a cult.
21:26Yes, absolutely.
21:26You're not aware of it.
21:28I'm not aware of it.
21:29That's what I'm telling you now.
21:32Okay, and ma'am, how about you?
21:33Well, I think it's every actor's dream to be in a Yashopra film.
21:38For me, it was.
21:39I've grown up on his movies.
21:41I've daydreamed that, okay, I will be in his movies.
21:45And I think universe conspires when you really want something and manifest it.
21:50And when I did this, I mean, of course, the way it came out,
21:54I wanted to be wearing the chiffon sarees, but here I was playing Shabo.
21:58And I did have my doubts about doing a role like that,
22:02where I thought maybe will I become some, you know, everybody's best friend
22:06because it's a Yashopra film and you had these tags coming in.
22:11And then Aditi is somebody who came up and said,
22:15there's a reason we ask you to do it.
22:17And there was something that I felt, hey, this is what you were wanting, go ahead, enjoy it.
22:23And I did each moment, right from learning the dialect to how she goes
22:29and with her body language, with everything, meeting all the co-actors.
22:35Because I think the love that was my first commercial success
22:39and the love that I got for the film to date is amazing.
22:43Because there was one person I didn't meet on the set
22:45who happens to be a very hot favourite as this gentleman.
22:52And then Ben happened.
22:58And lastly, I have two questions. First is for Ben.
23:00How would you define this movie in three words or a phrase if you have to?
23:07Three words.
23:10It's loss of family.
23:13It's really about seeing...
23:15Too many words.
23:16Oh, yeah.
23:17Is that it?
23:18Okay.
23:19Loss of family.
23:20Oh, okay.
23:21Great.
23:23But I just...
23:25I have to just say because these two...
23:27Please say it.
23:27Please say it.
23:29You watch both of these characters.
23:31They both want something deeply.
23:33You understand why they want it.
23:35They both make their points.
23:37They go to all-out psychological warfare together.
23:40And it's quite electric because they both reach their breaking point.
23:45Like, Master G's character, I mean, he's talking to himself.
23:48Yeah.
23:48He's talking to birds.
23:50Like, it's very wild.
23:52There's some scenes in there where it was like,
23:54are you really...
23:55Like, we're gonna push beyond psychological madness.
23:58And he was so game and just went fully into it.
24:01And I can see why that's a scary thing.
24:03Because you're actually portraying what it's like to lose your mind.
24:07And that's like a very intense thing.
24:08Same with Divya's character.
24:11There's moments where she's very sincere.
24:14Then she's very cunning.
24:16And she can be very manipulative.
24:17But there's one scene where she speaks so vulnerably
24:20about why she wants this thing and what it will mean to her
24:24and what she's been through in life and sacrifice.
24:26Again, it's very moving for me.
24:28But it's like, it's very touching.
24:30Because you start to pass judgment on these people.
24:32And as you get deeper into the layers of the onion,
24:35you actually sympathize.
24:36Oh my God, we're all broken people.
24:39And we're trying to make sense of our life together.
24:41And sometimes that means against each other.
24:43But the loss of family, it's something that we can all relate to
24:46because, you know, we all have these tensions.
24:49In this case, it just goes to the max.
24:53And lastly, Manoj sir, I have a slightly different question.
24:56Since it's the age of the internet,
24:57every new thing keeps on going viral now and then.
24:59There's this one clip from Samay Rana's show
25:02wherein him and some guests on the show,
25:05they were discussing about immigrants.
25:07Samay being from Kashmir and the guests being from Bihar.
25:10So they were going about the jokes at each other, you know.
25:13Immigrants have to leave their house, their own native
25:15and then they move to a different city for work
25:17or for anything in life.
25:19Do you think it should be looked at it just as a joke
25:21or people these days read too much into it?
25:25Read what?
25:26I mean, if two people…
25:27So basically it has polarized.
25:29The guest was from Bihar.
25:30Samay is from Kashmir.
25:31And they're joking about each other, their backgrounds
25:33and how things have turned up for them in life.
25:36If it is all in joke and, you know, just,
25:41actually, don't mind it, you know.
25:44We should learn to laugh at ourselves.
25:46Yeah, absolutely.
25:47And laugh together.
25:48Laugh at each other.
25:49Yeah.
25:50And still not be hurt and offended.
25:52Kuchh aadai touchy ho gai hai, yam log.
25:55This is what we should learn.
25:58We should have humor about ourselves
26:01but at the same time we should have respect.
26:04Yeah.
26:04Not only for ourselves but also for the person that you are sitting with
26:08and where that person comes from, it's very, very important.
26:13If you…
26:13If two people are very easy with each other, they always laugh at each other.
26:19I mean, this is what we've done from…
26:23I mean, when I was in Delhi, I was 18 and a half and I was trying to get into
26:29a transport,
26:33a bus from the front door because this was my first time.
26:37So, I didn't know the rule of the city.
26:40Mm-hmm.
26:40So, the driver looked, you know, shouted at me.
26:43Eh, bihari picheh se ha.
26:46So, he didn't know that I was from Bihar.
26:48But in actuality, I was from Bihar.
26:50So, for him, every person who was doing that kind of a foolish mistake was from Bihar.
26:55Okay.
26:56I…
26:57I didn't mind it.
26:58Mm-hmm.
26:59A, he was right that I was from Bihar.
27:03B, I was not wrong because I was new to the city and I was completely unfamiliar.
27:08Sure, yeah.
27:08Anyone would have done that.
27:09Okay.
27:10But when I made friends with people from different states, we used to laugh at each other.
27:14Mm-hmm.
27:14And we always…
27:15At the same time, we never got offended or hurt.
27:27Mm-hmm.
27:27Or becomes a problem for the community.
27:30Mm-hmm.
27:31Then there is a problem.
27:32Mm-hmm.
27:32Till then, it's…
27:34It's…
27:34We should…
27:35We should be able to laugh at each other.
27:37Laugh at ourselves.
27:39That's a sign of a very healthy society.
27:41Absolutely.
27:42And lastly, one common question for all of you.
27:45Is there a direct co-relationship between increasing use of tech and people taking offense?
27:50Anything of that sort in all your opinion?
27:52There is a…
27:53Is there a correlation between people taking more offense, the degree of it going higher,
27:56and the tech becoming more advanced?
27:59Like social media or…
28:00Yeah, definitely.
28:01I mean, because the algorithms push the most inflammatory content.
28:05So, one thing said out of context can be magnified and pushed to millions of people.
28:11Mm-hmm.
28:11So, then you're forming opinions on very small things that aren't based in whole fact.
28:17Mm-hmm.
28:17So, tech has definitely made people more sensitive.
28:20I mean, you know, the risk of cancellation, all these things.
28:23Like, I think Manoj brings up a great point.
28:25Like, comedy is one of the last safe havens of open speech.
28:30You know?
28:31Like, can we laugh at ourselves?
28:33Like…
28:33So, I mean, of course, you know, we don't want to be offensive or hurt people's feelings,
28:36but in intimate conversations and in comedy, there should be a place where we can joke about these issues and
28:44stuff.
28:44I also feel…
28:45I'm sorry.
28:46No, no, no.
28:46No, no, no.
28:46Please, please complete.
28:47No, I just feel there's a loneliness trickling everywhere where you need validations, which come through social media.
28:53You might be hiding behind a mask, behind an unknown name and an unknown title where this is my handle.
28:59Mm-hmm.
29:00And you say what you need to say because there's no one to hear.
29:03If I am just calling somebody, even in a day-to-day life, you know, I sometimes make it a
29:08point to call somebody without an agenda.
29:10Mm-hmm.
29:10And after, hi, how are you?
29:11There's like a silence.
29:13Mm-hmm.
29:13Like, okay, now what next?
29:14Nothing.
29:15Just call.
29:15Yeah.
29:16It's become difficult to digest that, that there's a no agenda call happening here.
29:22People have no one to listen.
29:24Mm-hmm.
29:24So, this point, because all your attention is there, all your validation.
29:29Listen, if I'm making a call to someone is okay, taken, but listen, you have to like it because you're
29:35getting validation in the society.
29:37That has become slightly, I would say, superficial where, you know, our connections are disappearing because of that.
29:43Yeah.
29:44And hence, your attention is all there.
29:46Mm-hmm.
29:46So, if there is some kind of toxicity trickling in, it kind of gets amplified.
29:52So, I guess everything is balanced.
29:54You've got to take that, you've got to take that.
29:56I mean, yes.
29:57She's right.
29:58I mean, we as individuals should know when to stop it.
30:02Yeah.
30:03And, you know, when to make use of it.
30:05Until the time you have that filter or control to use it to your advantage.
30:11Yeah.
30:12And leave it when it is right to leave it.
30:18Otherwise, you're ruining yourself.
30:20Your neck is always, you know, down.
30:23It's not a good sight.
30:24If I look at you from a distance, it's not a look, you know, good sight.
30:29It is a sight of a very troubled person whose head is down all the time.
30:37Yeah.
30:38Okay.
30:40And also, with the high tech, what's happening that there's a lot of, as he said, it's so right.
30:46I mean, there's a lot of cancellation culture.
30:49Cancel culture is springing up.
30:52Mm-hmm.
30:53Today, there's a very, you know, amazing, amazing example to it.
31:00There's somebody who's giving interview.
31:03And he was, he said something with so much of confidence.
31:07And that completely, you know, thrown me off.
31:12Because I, as a thinking person, thought, no, is it correct what he was saying?
31:23That's a Dunning-Kruger effect.
31:25Huh?
31:25Dunning-Kruger effect.
31:26And immediately, since it was troubled me so much that I, you know, I fact-checked it.
31:35Mm-hmm.
31:36The moment I fact-checked, I found out that it was wrong.
31:39Yeah.
31:39What he was quoting was wrong.
31:41And the anchor is, didn't even question it.
31:46Or didn't even fact-check.
31:48Yeah.
31:48And they were flowing with the conversation.
31:51So, what we are doing, that I, that guest comes across as a very intelligent and know-all kind of
32:01a guy.
32:01Yeah.
32:02And he is, he is peddling bullshit.
32:06Wow.
32:07His, you know, all fake thing.
32:10Yeah.
32:10And with, with utmost confidence.
32:14So, if you don't fact-check, anchor is not going to do it for you.
32:18It was so evident.
32:19Yeah.
32:20Even he was buying it.
32:21Mm-hmm.
32:22No.
32:22So, that's a, what, what Ben said is a, is a red flag today.
32:27Mm-hmm.
32:27Is a big, big red flag.
32:30That everyone who's listening to, no matter how big that person is, don't go by their faces or their reputation.
32:37Fact check.
32:38And there is a tech for that.
32:40Mm-hmm.
32:40There is an app for that.
32:44Yeah.
32:44Absolutely.
32:45Yeah.
32:46Perfect.
32:46So, with that we have reached the end of this conversation.
32:59What's the name of the film?
33:01The Last Man in Tower.
33:03Last Man in Tower.
33:05Last Man in Tower.
33:06Okay.
33:06September 11th.
33:08Don't cancel Master G.
33:12Perfect.
33:12So, on that note, thank you so much.
33:13It was an honor and a pleasure.
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