Aarakshan has a politician well-wisher

Even as several Dalit organisations and political parties are up in arms against the film, Aarakshan starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conveyed his best wishes to the makers of the film.

For his role as a college professor in Prakash Jha's Aarakshan, Amitabh learned the body language from maths wizard Anand Kumar. So, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told Jha and Amitabh, who called on him last evening, “You hijacked our Anand, a math wizard, for your Anand in your film Aarakshan." He added, “I have the best wishes for the film."

Prakash Jha had earlier said, “I am really thankful to Anand Kumar for his sincere efforts in helping me to direct the maths coaching portion of the film. Kumar accepted with humility my request to him to come to Mumbai and coach me in mathematics. It has been an exciting experience. It becomes very easy for me to direct Amit Ji and Saif Ali Khan for the maths teaching scene. I am really indebted to Kumar for the way he coached me."

Anand Kumar started the Ramanujan School of Mathematics for the poor children after he failed to go to Cambridge University due to financial constraint. He then set up Super 30, where he provides free education, food and lodging to 30 talented students from underprivileged sections of the society for the IIT-JEE. 236 students have qualified in the last nine years.