Kalam denies role in Indo-French film

Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has denied that he is appearing in an Indo-French film titled I Am Kalam. But actor Gulshan Grover insists Kalam has given a shot as himself in the movie.

Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has denied that he is appearing in an Indo-French film titled "I Am Kalam". But actor Gulshan Grover insists Kalam "has given a shot as himself in the movie".

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Kalam's office said in a statement: "Kalam has no plans to act or associate with any film. The news is only a speculation and it is the individual's imagination with a business motive."

Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover, who stars in the movie, had earlieru00a0said that Kalam had made a small appearance in "I am Kalam", a film Gulshan said was inspired by the former president.

Speaking in New Delhi, Gulshan said he had finished working on "a very interesting film called 'I Am Kalam'. I shot for it recently in Rajasthan. It's an Indo-French film. The director is an Indian - Madhav Panda.

"This film is about a child's ability to dream, a child who gets inspired after watching the former president, how he has the right to dream big and work towards that dream, and that is what our former president says."

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Asked if Kalam was aware of this film, Gulshan replied in a taped interview: "Yes, very much, and in fact he has kindly done a little bit of appearance in the picture as a cameo."

Asked Saturday to comment on Kalam's denial, Gulshan told IANS over telephone from Mumbai: "The film has been made (with) Kalam's blessings and has been inspired by his story. He has given a shot as himself in the movie. He has not acted as an actor...

"I stand by what I say. We don't want to disrespect him. He (Kalam) is a man of integrity. We are indebted to him for the movie, and the movie is nothing without him."