Ridhi Dogra Reacts To PM Modi’s Praise For The Sabarmati Report: ‘I Was Numb…’ | Exclusive – News18

Last Updated:November 20, 2024, 04:40 IST

Ridhi Dogra expressed her joy over PM Modi’s praise for The Sabarmati Report, calling it the highest compliment they could receive.

Despite multiple controversial narratives surrounding it, The Sabarmati Report crossed the box office collections of Vikrant Massey’s previous theatrical release, 12th Fail, on its first day. It went on to witness a steady growth over the weekend. In fact, the film, which tells the story of the tragic Sabarmati train incident of 2002, recently also received appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

While Modi lauded The Sabarmati Report for bringing out ‘the facts’, Shah stated it ‘defies the ecosystem with unparalleled courage and exposes the truth behind the fateful episode’. Now, Ridhi Dogra, who plays a journalist in the film, reacts to Modi’s words of appreciation, in an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha. “It was unbelievable! I was zapped, numb and fully speechless and I think I still am,” she says.

She further adds, “It’s a huge honour that they’ve acknowledged our effort and the fact that we really, really did try to stay true to the facts and research. It feels good when you’re supported. This is truly the topmost compliment that we can receive. It feels so good. I didn’t even jump from my seat when I got the notification. I went, ‘Oh! Wow!’ I think that’s how everyone reacted even on social media. That was my state of mind.”

Talking about how the Prime Minister’s appreciation is ‘still sinking in’, Ridhi remarks, “For any project that you do, you’re always looking for encouragement and appreciation and when it comes from the most Hon’ble Prime Minister, the topmost man in our country, it’s a great feeling. It hasn’t completely settled inside me. I need a few more people telling me this for me to say, ‘Okay, this has happened.’”

Prior to the release of The Sabarmati Report, a certain section of the audience called it out for being a film that was intentionally made to drive a certain religious narrative and stated that its release before the Maharashtra elections was a strategic move. Ridhi tells us that she hopes for this perception to change now that the film is running in theatres. “I watched the film for the first time when it released and when I saw it, I was one with the story. I never felt like it was an agenda-driven film even while making it.”

Defending her film, the Jawan and Tiger 3 actor continues, “I enjoyed the character arcs and understood the journey of the years between 2002 and 2010. I enjoyed the story as a story. There were lots of elements in the film which worked for me as an audience. I’m very happy with my character also. She didn’t go overboard, she wasn’t over-dramatic or didn’t try to exaggerate what she already was.”