Mumbai: Actor Emraan Hashmi, who is playing the lead role in the forthcoming film<\/b>
\nMumbai: Actor Emraan Hashmi, who is playing the lead role in the forthcoming film \u201cCheat India\u201d, says that the formal education system of India is not good enough for the growth of young minds and believes that such education cannot be a prerequisite for success.
Asked what\u2019s his opinion on the relevance of formal education, Emraan told IANS here: \u201cI know some of the stupidest people on earth who had great formal education. I also come across some of the smart and brightest individuals who had no great formal education and degrees. Formal education is not a norm that gets you success in life.\u201d
\u201cI think in the present time, the formal education that we are practising in the mainstream, is a waste of time. Just because in a building, a group of people promoting some kind of source for learning, does not mean our students are learning a great thing.
\u201cOur education system is still practising something that can only deliver average homegrown clerk that used to happen in the British era. That is not how we can develop young minds\u2026no sorry!\u201d added the \u201cMurder\u201d actor.
He believes that in the age of Internet, universities have moved into online education.
Emraan said: \u201cWithout taking the name of any board, I just want to say, the system of our basic education is pretty useless. All we are practising is how to mug up the textbook and write it on the exam paper to get marks and grades. Is that the right way to educate mind?\u201d
Emraan, who started his career in 2005, used to be known more for doing on-screen kissing scenes in Bollywood films. He gradually made space for himself in Bollywood with films like \u201cGangster\u201d, \u201cAksar\u201d, \u201cKalyug\u201d, \u201cJannat\u201d, \u201cThe Dirty Picture\u201d and \u201cAzhar\u201d.
Is he finally getting his due as an actor?
\u201cWell, earlier I had done films where I was satisfied with the process, the experience of making of the film, but the character I am playing in \u2018Cheat India\u2019 is quite close to my sensibility as an individual,\u201d Emraan said.
\u201cThe character is not over the top. It\u2019s close to reality and at the same time, engaging. It is bringing an issue to the forefront through the film,\u201d he said.
The film addresses the issue of existing corruption in the field of education. He felt that the film could be a conversation starter on the matter.
Was that the sole reason for taking it up?
The actor said: \u201cI would say that is a by-product of a good story. Primarily, when I am listening to a script, it is about how I am reacting to the story as an audience member. If I am becoming part of a narrative, it has to appeal to me first. \u2018Cheat India\u2019 was apt for that.\u201d
The story of the film revolves around cheating during examinations, especially in government colleges and in competitive tests where people use power and money to get degrees.
Sharing his personal experience, Emraan said: \u201cI have seen how exam papers are leaked during exams. Some of my friends\u2019 friends bought question papers in advance and later they failed in the exam because they got the wrong set of questions. I have seen how students paid money to invigilators to fill the answer papers\u2026 I never got involved in such activities, but I have seen them happening.\u201d
Directed by Soumik Sen, \u201cCheat India\u201d is releasing on January 25 next year.<\/p>\n