Hansal Mehta lauds Anubhav Sinha’s Bheed, calls Rajkummar Rao ‘superlative’

Director Hansal Mehta took to Twitter and shared his review of Bheed, the upcoming film starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar which is slated for release on March 24. The film, which is directed by Anubhav Sinha, revolves around the struggles of migrant workers in India during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and compares the situation to that of the Partition of India in 1947. Hansal lauded the film and the performances of the cast and called it “one of the best ensembles since Maqbool”. (Also read: Hansal Mehta responds as film trade analyst calls Anubhav Sinha’s Bheed ‘absolutely ridiculous’: ‘So you’ve seen it’)

Taking to Twitter to share his short review of the film, the National Award-winning director tweeted the poster of the film and wrote: “#Bheed in theatres tomorrow. This film besides being an important document of our times is dramatic and engaging with perhaps one of the best ensembles since Maqbool. @RajkummarRao is superlative in his portrayal of a conflicted ‘in-charge’. @anubhavsinha is on top of his game.” He further added in the comments, “Pankajji (Pankaj Kapur), Virubhai (Veerendra Saxena), Ashutosh Rana, Aditya Shrivastava, Bhumi and the entire cast put together by @CastingChhabra is terrific. Particularly heartbreaking is Aditi Subedi. Don’t miss #Bheed.”

Earlier this month, the film received significant attention when the official trailer was released. Drawing to mixed reactions, the trailer was later pulled down and re-released after chopping off a speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a line referencing the Partition. Anubhav had told news agency PTI during an interview, “Of course, these changes are obvious. The trailer was off air for two days (and) the changes mentioned are correct. But that reason is the filmmaker’s business. There is a sanctity to the film and I would not like to disturb it.”

Hansal had also come out in support for the film that time when Sumit Kadel, a film business analyst, called it “absolutely ridiculous.” He commented, “So you’ve seen the film I suppose.” Responding to a separate tweet, Hansal also wrote, “Let’s hear the political ideology you espouse in your tweet sir. Mine supports free speech and expression. My ideology supports inclusivity and is one that is open to criticism and debate.”

Shot extensively in Lucknow, Bheed is produced by Anubhav’s Benaras Mediaworks. Bheed also features Dia Mirza, Kritika Kamra, Virendra Saxena, Aditya Srivastava and Karan Pandit.