Sandalwood star Upendra’s films, which have always been a tribute to his quirks as a director and an actor, have never failed to evoke a sense of curiosity among moviegoers. Likewise his recent announcement of setting foot into politics with his newly-launched ‘Uttama Praja Party’. The name itself carries an undeniable mass appeal and has piqued the interest of people.
While until now he has ridden on his strength of being unconventional, will the same attribute lend success to his political ambitions? Even as he bravely announces that his party will contest all the 224 seats, one has to only wait and see whether this prolific story teller’s political ideologies are ripe for harvest. While people are waiting for what he has in store in his political avatar, his determination seems to be strongly rooted in what he believes people want of him. In an interview with Express, Upendra explains his reasons for entering politics and how he plans to execute his plan of a party that will work for people.
Does your announcement of a political party, just months before the elections, seem hasty considering the big plans you have?
The announcement was not really planned. For the last 15 years, I have been discussing this endlessly with many people. I have written, recorded and discussed this. I was advised by several people to go for it, but something or the other kept coming up. We almost decided to announce it, but then I had to go to Bangkok for a film shoot and I decided to drop it, because it would not be right to make an announcement and then disappear. I thought I will just let it go for now. But the next day, there was media report saying that I was joining BJP and hell broke loose. At that point, I realised I had to bell that cat. So I released an audio tape and then the press conference just happened. Coincidentally, the film shoot got postponed. There are still rumours that I am joining BJP and all this was a carefully executed plan. There is nothing I can do about that. If I had not done it now, I would have taken it up only next year after the elections.
What has the response been so far to your party?
The response has been very good. I am receiving mails by the thousands. Even before I announced the party, people had started hearing about it and they started responding. Everyone wants a complete change. Even the corrupt have started feeling that they cannot go on like this and something has to change. This is the results of several years of thinking and has now become big. I am getting several ideas that are beautiful from all corners of the state and from other parts of the world as well. Even officers have started approaching me, because they think what I am doing is very important.
You have refused to comment on the three major parties and their approaches. Are you going to continue doing that as election approaches?
I will not comment on anyone. It is a systemic problem. See, that is the beauty of ‘prajakarana’. This is not ‘rajakarana’ because I am not a king. The people are the kings. It is not about who is wrong. It is systemic. Someone narrated to me an instance where a kid in a classroom said he wanted to become a leader and he was told, if you have to become a leader, feed coffee to five people. This is what it means today to become a leader. If you are becoming a leader after spending `20-50 crore, how can you serve people? Politics has become a business. If, as a politician, I am spending `20 crore, then it will trickle down to my followers and the people supporting me. After getting elected, there is pressure on officers to give money to the politician. It is all twisted now. One has to break this chain. If you look at the system now, politicians and officers are busy blaming each other. They are doing what they can do within the system, but it is not enough. If we do not stop this, it will become the way of life for the future generations.
Are you completely ruling out joining or merging with another party?
I will support any party if they want it as long they present the candidates the way we want. It is a message. I do not want any caste, money, gatherings or any such thing for now. I want candidates to say they have this much experience and present a plan for what they want to do with a budget. Maybe about schools for instance. It should be authentic. Let the parties come and compete with me, I will not compete with them. There is nothing for me. I will be happy if someone else does what I am trying to do. I am not here to go against them. The reason I came here is to do something good. Money and fame is enough. Whoever does it does not matter. Winning should not have to come into it. When I want to win, the thinking is different. The thinking should be such that if a party puts up a right candidate, then I should not even be thinking of contesting against such a person. One should hope for such thing. The standard party is a big company. If I go to a party they will give me a seat. What can I possibly do with a single seat?
You are an unabashed fan of Narendra Modi. Do you plan to emulate him and does you love for him extend to his party as well?
Yes, I think Modi is a great man. I think his is a great achievement and he is working for people. I am following him every step of the way whether it is demonetisation or GST, Jan Dhan accounts or digitisation. I believe he is doing whatever he can do. Just like his smart city and Swacch Bharat, I think we need smart and swacch administration. Whatever he is doing has to seep down in the state. We don’t know whether demonetisation and GST will cut down problems, but the movement of unorganised sector to organised is good. Accountability is what we are asking for as well. Congress and BJP might be correct in what they are doing here in the situation, but the situation itself is not right. It is huge work to set it right. this work is not for an individual and it needs a party.
What are the five most crucial issues facing the state right now and what solutions do you have to offer?
I think the biggest problems facing the state right now is water, electricity, agriculture, education and health. These are the most difficult issues to be sorted out as well. Education especially. The difference between private and government schools for instance. Or the trouble parents have to go through to enrol their children into schools.
Even to admit a child to kindergarten in a small school, a person has to shell out `20,000-25,000 and then there are books and uniforms. How can people afford this? The smallest health problem will leave you with a huge bill. We can improve production of solar energy. We need smart villages more than smart cities. I do not want to say I have instant solutions. I want to have detailed answers when I go before people. Right now, I have a body of advisers and more are joining this group and we are all coming up with what we think are the best solutions to problems.
Even the government will have expert committees, but they are doing something else, while the real experts are somewhere else. You understand the importance of money during elections. Yet, you say you will have nothing much to do with money. How will you manage this? People laugh if you say you do not need money. Maybe earlier you needed money. Now, with technology you can reach people everywhere. Parties should show the calibre of candidates.
I want that competition between parties to have better candidates and show their calibre -- that is democracy. I have zero funds now and my route is different so I will not look at other parties to learn or unlearn. Many of my supporters want to donate. Even with `10 donation per person, I can collect a lot of money. But I do not want to do that. Now I am spending my own money for everything and we do not have any major expenses as of now. I don’t want to take donations or else I will be the same as everyone else. I am avoiding big expenses as of now. For instance, somebody offered me some office space. Let us see where it takes us.
What are your next plans and what about your film commitments?
Right now, three things are on my mind. Identifying the problems, recognising the solutions, identify the right candidates and place their qualifications before people. I am going along with it every step of the way, but people have to push it. I am not saying I know everything or will create miracles, but I am asking people to participate. I have to say how I am going to fix it with concrete details. I cannot do what I want by myself. We need a majority to do it and I have to present solutions for it. As far as film commitments go, I have only one film and shooting will be completed within a month. After that, I will be fully committed to the party. I have said no to two films. I am not sure if I will take them up.