Jaaved Jaaferi
has won accolades as an actor, dancer, comedian, and impressionist but what
makes him different from his other contemporaries is his sincere and
undiplomatic opinion on what’s happening around the country socially and
politically. As Opoyi got the chance to connect with him on Republic day, the
first question that instantly came to my mind is to ask him if he is happy with
the current India where at one hand Farmers are protesting against the new Farm
Laws and on the other hand, ‘Tandav’ is facing backlash for hurting religious
sentiments.

For
someone, who had a brief stint with politics, Javed says that the
current freedom of speech in the country is suppressed because of social media
platforms. “Honestly I am not very happy with what’s happening around. There
are a lot of controversial things happening and I just feel that freedom of
speech, to some extent, has been suppressed indirectly,” the 57-year-old told
Opoyi.

By
indirect censorship, he means internet.

“If
you say something on social media, 5000 people will instantly jump on you and
start maligning and abusing you. Also on WhatsApp, there is this whole little world
where people start believing in what is with them. So the internet has become
dangerous territory. I feel that it can be a tool for information or a weapon
for mass destruction depends on how you use it.”

As
an Indian, he says that there are a lot of problems in the country which need
to be sorted out for growth and development.

“It’s
a fallacy that only the politicians have to bring about the change as the
country belongs to everybody. The people who think well, are educated and understand others should work together,” said the actor who was recently
seen in ‘Coolie No. 1’ streamed on OTT platform.

The actor, who has also contested the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections from Lucknow as a candidate of the Aam Aadmi Party, says
that the word ruling party has its own consequences. 

“I
don’t understand when they say the ruling party as ideally it has to be a
serving party and I am not talking about just one government,” he stated.
Elaborating on that further, he says that the Government is chosen to serve the people,
serve the benefit of this country. 

“When
the people get in position and say they are ruling, that’s when the problem
arises. When you serve you listen to wise people who are educated, who are
experienced and that’s how we take the country ahead and I think it’s important
that we listen to the voices,” said the actor, adding that he just “hopes,
wishes and pray” for things to change in days to come.

“It’s
a beautiful and most diverse country with amazing people. I feel that somehow
politics has always been used in a very negative way. It’s not about how we can
take this country ahead but about how we should be in power and that’s quite
sad. We also have the best scientists and IT people but they are working
outside the country so it’s about the opportunities, which probably we don’t
have here. Also, we are way behind in education at the ground level for example
in villages. Also, the budget for the health sector is quite low,” said Javed.

His political stint as AAP member was the talk of the town with many cheering him for his move while others showing discontent.

Talking about what made him take that step, he said, “It was just a reaction as I felt that India needed a
third front because there were two just parties and both of them had their
so-called negatives and positives. I just felt that AAP was doing a good job
and the intentions were super so I said okay let’s be a part of a movement
because I wanted to see a change in the country,” he said.

However,
he later realized that politics is not his cup of tea.

“
I realized when I fought the election that I have put in a lot of effort and
time into that and I realized that you got to be thick-skinned and unemotional,
which for me as an actor was not possible as we are quite an emotional person
so politics is not something which I can be comfortable with,” elucidates the
actor.

He,
however, is in the loop with what is happening in the country. 

“I
am aware and I am very much interested in what’s happening in my country
because it’s my country and my priority will be my country. You do feel sad and
happy in both good and bad ways with what’s happening around,” he sums
up.