Indian-American actor and member of Obama Administration, Kal Penn hopes that the telling account of his upcoming film 'Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain' based on the gas leak tragedy of 1984, will make a difference in the lives of families of the victims of the disaster.
The Ravi Kumar-directed film is a fictionalised account of the shocking events at Union Carbide, leading to the biggest man-made industrial disaster in history, killing over 5000 people.
The 37-year-old actor says Kumar as well as the whole team of the film have been very sensitive while making the movie and have tried their best to do justice to the real story.
"The film is a fictionalised adaptation, its not a biopic. I think Ravi has spent quite a bit of time in Bhopal and been involved with NGOs. I am sadly ignorant as I haven't necessarily been there," Penn told PTI.
"My hope, as an artiste, is that we have done justice to the piece. I hope that we have told the story tactfully, honestly and truthfully. Hope it makes some difference in the lives of the people in Bhopal," he said, adding the film may be based on a real-life incident but it is told in a very engaging way.
The 'Namesake' actor, who is in Mumbai for the trailer launch of the film set for release in India on December 5, plays a Bhopal-based tabloid journalist named Motwani.
Penn says besides the powerful storyline, the opportunity to play a larger-than-life, colourful reporter attracted him to the project.
"The guy I play is kind of a ridiculous character. He is larger than life. He is a journalist, who just wants to sell salacious headlines, more than telling the truth.
"During the course of the film it becomes clear that he is very passionate about his town and really wants to help the people. The role has many interesting layers, so for me as an actor, it was a delight," said Penn, who is best known for starring in the 'Harold & Kumar' film series.
