Shatrughan Sinha on L.K. Advani at 98: “He must live forever… we miss leaders like him” 98 : Bollywood News

As your mentor L.K. Advani turns 98, what are your thoughts?
That he must live forever. He must attain immortality. In these times of vitiated politics, we miss people like Advaniji and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in active politics more than ever.

Shatrughan Sinha on L.K. Advani at 98: “He must live forever… we miss leaders like him”

But Advaniji is much more than a politician?
He is a true artiste — a connoisseur of the arts. He loves cinema and Amitabh Bachchan.

Not Shatrughan Sinha?
(Laughs) I’d like to think he loves me more. Lekin jahan tak sawaal hai filmon ka, unko Bachchan zyada pasand hai!

You’ve learnt a lot from Advaniji — the politician and the human being?
That’s because he doesn’t separate the two. His values as a human being extend into his political beliefs. Advani Saab belongs to the old school of ideology-based leadership. Unke nazariye mein “compromise” naam ki cheez nahin hai. Such leaders are not just rare — they are extinct.

You hero-worship Advaniji?
I hero-worship Advaniji, Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji, and Jai Prakash Narayanji. These are the leaders who shaped my attitude toward life and politics. Advaniji is not just a stalwart of the Bharatiya Janata Party — he has given his life to the country. He is a statesman and a leader of national stature, respected by all regardless of party lines or political allegiances.

Advaniji is even now a movie buff?
He used to be an avid movie-watcher — a first-day-first-show kind of person. He’s very proud of the fact that he saw one of the earliest hits, Achhut Kanya, starring Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani. That goes back a long way — even before talkie films became popular! Do you know he was even a movie critic for a while?

His daughter Pratibha is a huge support?
I’ve not seen a more devoted daughter. She has looked after her father with single-minded devotion for decades. Aisi aulad Bhagwan sabko de.

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