Shree Narayan Singh, the director of the movie Toilet Ek Prem Katha is surprised by the feedback which he got for his Hindi film. The movie has made a great impact on people and he has received a lot of praises from people around the world including celebrities.
People like Bill Gates and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have watched the film and they responded by praising the director of the movie.
Gates tweeted in support of Toilet Ek Prem Katha. He tweeted: “Toilet: A Love Story,” a Bollywood romance about a newlywed couple, educated audiences about India’s sanitation challenge.”
3/ “Toilet: A Love Story,” a Bollywood romance about a newlywed couple, educated audiences about India’s sanitation challenge. https://t.co/TIRRmcamLy
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 19, 2017
“I am falling short of words. It’s difficult for me to say this in mere words to express my gratitude towards Mr.Gates for appreciating a simple film like TEPK. But it definitely gives me a big high hearing appreciation from someone like Bill Gates. I mean…wow! Is Mr Gates aware of any other Hindi film?” Shree Narayan Singh said in response, News18 reported.
Toilet Ek Prem Katha is comedy-drama film which was released in August 2017. It features Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar and Anupam Kher in lead roles. The film is about the sanitation problems faced by the people in rural India.
Singh started his career with the film Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai in 2012 and the film was a disaster.
“It was Neeraj Pandey who pulled me out of oblivion. Of course i was proud to be associated with ‘Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai’. But the film flopped and I would’ve vanished if it was not for Neerajji. He invited me to assist him in all his films including his productions that he didn’t direct,” said Singh.
Later, the producers asked Singh to direct a movie in which he had a choice of three scripts. “But it was this one, the one that became ‘Toilet Ek Prem Katha’ written by Siddharth and Garima that I immediately warmed up to. The story of a bride who leaves her husband when she got to know there’s no toilet in her sasural, resonated in my mind. Once Akshay Sir came on board everything fell into place,” he said.
Reportedly, other A-list actors including Shah Rukh Khan had rejected to do a film about the toilet habits in India.
Singh described Akshay Kumar as a blessing. “His dedication to making Toilet Ek Prem Katha is indescribable. He would be the first one on the sets even if we shot till 1 am on the previous night. Normally he doesn’t shoot for more than 8 hours per day. But i only had to ask and he would be there for me, all ready and raring to go as long as i wanted him. He treated me like a child who needs nurturing. I don’t know if i could have made this film without Akshay Sir. His passion and dedication are very inspiring,” he said.
Akshay Kumar has done some quality movies which conveys social messages. The actor is all set to win his fans hearts again with his upcoming movie Padman.
Singh’s new film Batti Gul Meter Chalu is about power theft, featuring Shahid Kapoor in lead role. The film will be shot in Haridwar.
“Whatever i make has to have a connect with the day-to-day problems of the working class, everything else depends on God,” Singh said.