Mumbai: Actor Sharman Joshi, whose latest film ‘The Least of These: The Graham Staines Story’ is based on the real-life incident of the late Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines, believes that extremism should always be discouraged.
The film is based on Staines, who worked among the underprivileged and leprosy victims in Odisha. In 1999, he was burnt to death along with his two sons by the members of a hardline Hindu organisation inside his station wagon in Manoharpur village in Kendujhar district of the state.
Talking about the relevance of the film in the present time, Sharman said: “The incident happened in reality and the story was so compelling that I felt the need of telling it in the atmosphere of extremism that we are living in recent times. Though the incident took place in 1999, I think it still holds relevance.”
“That film sets out to give the message that any form of extremism is a threat to humanity and that tolerance is the key to harmony,” said the actor.
Directed by Aneesh Daniel, ‘The Least of These: The Graham Staines Story’ is slated for release on March 29.
The actor has been part of films such as ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Golmaal’, ‘Life in a… Metro’ and ‘3 Idiots’.
IANS
