Renowned lawyer had no plans per se to become an actor, but when the Love You Loktantra [2022] script came his way, he decided to produce and also act in it.

By Mayur Lookhar

In a democracy, everyone has the freedom to earn their livelihood. Cinema is open for all, as long as you have the talent, or genes [nepotism]. Advocate Ameet Kumar has no godfather in the film industry, but he sure is a renowned name in legal and political circles. A lawyer by profession, Kumar is also a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Besides, he has served as a trustee in various organizations. The 49-year-old is now set to launch himself as an actor, that, too, playing the main lead.

Produced by Kumar’s Zurich Media, Love You Loktantra [2022] marks his debut in Bollywood. Two nights ago, Kumar threw a bash to launch the trailer, and few songs of Love You Loktantra. The event was graced by many dignitaries, including Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. It was so crowded that many like yours truly were struggling to even get a view of the dais. Javed Akhtar, Raza Murad, Jackie Shroff, Kumar Sanu, Sneha Ullal, Shaan, Poonam Dhillon was among those who graced the event.

We chatted with Kumar briefly later. Was acting a long-cherished dream? The lawyer, politician, now actor surprised us. “No, there was no such ambition or plan. We were offered this script. We liked it so much that we decided why don’t we only do it,” Kumar told Beyond Bollywood.

You wouldn’t fault Kumar for casting himself. After all, the principal character in the film is a lawyer.

Independent cinema has its challenges, and it would be too early to pass a judgment on the trailer. However, we do like the democratic story idea wherein there is no clear mandate in a state election with the two most popular parties tied on vote count. They need support of two independent MLAs [Member of Legislature Assembly] that could tilt the power in anyone’s favour. It sets the stage for MLA hunting, wooing with the two in-demand leaders landing up in jail [presumably for security]. The matter goes to court, where Kumar’s character is hired by one faction, while the other faction hiring Ravi Kishan’s character.

A lawyer, politician mocking Indian polity, how would Kumar’s political party or rivals look at such content, the actor though allayed such fears by saying, “There will be no trouble. We’ve taken care of it. Our film does not hurt anyone.”

Indian loktantra (democracy) comes with its own, unique sense of humour that often makes us say, ‘Love You Loktantra.  Not just a legal tussle, but Kumar gets to romance, sing and do action in his maiden film.  Apart from Kumar, Ravi Kishan, the cast also includes Isha Koppikar, Manoj Joshi, Ali Asgar, Krushna Abhishek.

Kumar, who is the Managing Director of the legal firm Solicis Lex, assured all that he has no plans to quit his primary profession. In fact, Kumar only shot the film on his holidays. Love You Loktantra is just another feather in the illustrious cap of the lawyer.

Directed by Abhay Nihalani, and written by Sanjay Chhel, Love You Loktantra [2022] is set to be released on 2 September.