Dear Friend Hitler, an in-the-works Bollywood film about the German dictator, has lost its star after protests from India's Jewish community, ABC News and Reuters are reporting. Anupan Kher, best known in the West for his roles in Bend It Like Beckham and Bride And Prejudice, was set to step into the role of Hitler, but opted out stating, "Considering the ill-will that the project is generating among my fans, I wish to withdraw from it as I respect their sentiments."
Why the ill will? Well, Dear Friend Hitler doesn't sound like it plans to take the usual anti-Hitler stance. Director Rakesh Ranjan Kuma has spoken about the film would depict, "Hitler's love for India and how he indirectly contributed to Indian independence," and that he wanted to "capture the personality of Adolf Hitler and his insecurities, his charisma and his paranoia during the last few days of his life." For more information, check out Guardian writer Alex von Tunzelmann's piece on the movie, which sheds some light on India's attitude toward Hitler.
