--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The question is - did Richard…" description: "\"The question is - did Richard Attenborough have a right to make 'Gandhi?' And did Danny Boyle have a right to make 'Slumdog Millionaire?' Quite honestl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/shekhar-kapur-15487_bollywood_the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough_605888.jpg" --- # The question is - did Richard Attenborough have a right to… ![“The question is - did Richard Attenborough have a right to make 'Gandhi?' And did Danny Boyle have a right to make 'Slumdog Millionaire?' Quite honestly, if they didn't have the right to make these films, I had no right to make 'Elizabeth.'” quote by Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/shekhar-kapur-15487_bollywood_the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough_605888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/shekhar-kapur-15487_bollywood_the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough_605888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/shekhar-kapur-15487_bollywood_the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough_605888.jpg) > “The question is - did Richard Attenborough have a right to make 'Gandhi?' And did Danny Boyle have a right to make 'Slumdog Millionaire?' Quite honestly, if they didn't have the right to make these films, I had no right to make 'Elizabeth.'” [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions artistic ownership and cultural authority, suggesting creators must earn the right to tell certain stories. **In simple terms:** Artists need legitimacy to portray historical figures. Key Takeaway Consider ethical responsibilities of filmmakers. Themes art culture ethics representation Mood reflective critical Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - historical biopics - political dramas - documentary filmmaking Key Concepts cultural appropriation historical narrative Questions to Reflect On - Who decides who can tell a story? - What responsibilities do creators have to their subjects? A Different Perspective Rights to tell a story can be contested by descendants or communities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bollywood/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gandhi/) [Millionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millionaire/) [Slumdog millionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slumdog-millionaire/) ## Related quotes > [I think that I altered history in 'Elizabeth,' and I interpreted history far more than Danny Boyle or Richard Attenborough did to 'Slumdog Millionaire'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-think-that-i-altered-history-in-elizabeth-and-i-interpreted-history/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [Above all, Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' is the work of an artist at the peak of his powers. India is his palette, and Mumbai…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/above-all-danny-boyle-s-slumdog-millionaire-is-the-work-of-an-artist/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [In 1947, who was the PM? In 1962, who was the PM? Similarly, in 1965 and 1971, who was the PM? We divided Pakistan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amarinder-singh/in-1947-who-was-the-pm-in-1962-who-was-the-pm-similarly-in-1965-and/) [Amarinder Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amarinder-singh/) > [ \[A.J. Muste\] never engaged in violence but he believed, as \[Mahatma\] Gandhi did - and he knew Gandhi slightly - he believed that a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/a-j-muste-never-engaged-in-violence-but-he-believed-as-mahatma-gandhi/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [We shot 'CBGB' in Savannah, and then I took another project there afterwards called 'Killing Winston Jones.' It's a dark comedy with Richard Dreyfuss,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-david-moore/we-shot-cbgb-in-savannah-and-then-i-took-another-project-there/) Joel David Moore > [Marriage and films should be done for the right reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-tripathi/marriage-and-films-should-be-done-for-the-right-reasons/) [Shweta Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-tripathi/) > [I wish I could do a lot of things different. I'm not going to tell you what they are, but if I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-wish-i-could-do-a-lot-of-things-different-i-m-not-going-to-tell-you/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [Working with Suriya is like a dream-come-true moment for me. I've been following Suriya's films right from my childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sai-pallavi/working-with-suriya-is-like-a-dream-come-true-moment-for-me-i-ve-been/) [Sai Pallavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sai-pallavi/) > [I hope to do films. Right now I'm just doing projects that are interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-joan-hart/i-hope-to-do-films-right-now-i-m-just-doing-projects-that-are/) [Melissa Joan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-joan-hart/) > [Even though 'Vicky Donor' was a huge success, I have had one or two films which have not done well, but that's all right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yami-gautam/even-though-vicky-donor-was-a-huge-success-i-have-had-one-or-two/) [Yami Gautam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yami-gautam/) > [I love Hollywood films and when they're done right, they're great. At the same time, I think it's always hard to come on to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-wyatt/i-love-hollywood-films-and-when-they-re-done-right-they-re-great-at/) [Rupert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-wyatt/) > [Motion picture making is a very, very involved affair. It is completely my baby. I'm a thorough professional. I plan films right from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev-anand/motion-picture-making-is-a-very-very-involved-affair-it-is-completely/) [Dev Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev-anand/) > ['Slumdog Millionaire' was as good or as bad any Bollywood film. If I had to rate it, I would give it just 5.5 points…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-manjrekar/slumdog-millionaire-was-as-good-or-as-bad-any-bollywood-film-if-i-had/) [Mahesh Manjrekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-manjrekar/) > [I don't think there is any advantage to digital unless it's in a case like Slumdog Millionaire, where you have to get a shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-don-t-think-there-is-any-advantage-to-digital-unless-it-s-in-a-case/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) ## More by Shekhar Kapur > [It is interesting that Nehru fought and kept saying that if you break India into languages, there is no end to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/it-is-interesting-that-nehru-fought-and-kept-saying-that-if-you-break/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [India was formed on the idea 'Let's get the British out.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/india-was-formed-on-the-idea-let-s-get-the-british-out/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [In this universe, and this existence, where we live with this duality of whether we exist or not and who are we, the stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/in-this-universe-and-this-existence-where-we-live-with-this-duality/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [I am far more comfortable with failure than I ever will be with success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-am-far-more-comfortable-with-failure-than-i-ever-will-be-with/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [I am not possessive at all. In every relationship I have had, the girl has left me. And the fundamental complaint has been that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-am-not-possessive-at-all-in-every-relationship-i-have-had-the-girl/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [I gave up the idea of having a career when I was 24. Sounds glamorous, but I've been doing things since then, and part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-gave-up-the-idea-of-having-a-career-when-i-was-24-sounds-glamorous/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [I admire people who come to politics because it takes a lot of courage to be in politics in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-admire-people-who-come-to-politics-because-it-takes-a-lot-of/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [I tell a story, and therefore I exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-tell-a-story-and-therefore-i-exist/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [I have devoted my life to uncertainty. Certainty is the death of wisdom, thought, creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-have-devoted-my-life-to-uncertainty-certainty-is-the-death-of/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [As a director, my job is to spend money, and the producer's is to save money. Masoom, Bandit Queen and the first Queen Elizabeth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/as-a-director-my-job-is-to-spend-money-and-the-producer-s-is-to-save/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [Fall in love so madly that every leaf whispers words of love to your lover. Every raindrop explodes with only one word as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/fall-in-love-so-madly-that-every-leaf-whispers-words-of-love-to-your/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [Filmmaking is a great adventure. I'm as excited as a kid to be given tickets to fly suddenly to England, South Africa, America, everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/filmmaking-is-a-great-adventure-i-m-as-excited-as-a-kid-to-be-given/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [I have a huge political interest. I just wish I had the courage to come into politics in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-have-a-huge-political-interest-i-just-wish-i-had-the-courage-to/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [When you get up, the night and day is a contradiction. But you get up at 4 A.M. That first blush of blue is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/when-you-get-up-the-night-and-day-is-a-contradiction-but-you-get-up/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [I spent 15 years of my career trying to convince people that Indian cinema is relevant. I am so proud of Indian cinema and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-spent-15-years-of-my-career-trying-to-convince-people-that-indian/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) [Explore all 43 Shekhar Kapur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) ## More Bollywood quotes > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [Bollywood is a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/bollywood-is-a-cancer/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [Innumerable lovers of Hindi cinema have lit up the big screen. But on screen, they are just two beautiful bodies. They have no caste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravish-kumar/innumerable-lovers-of-hindi-cinema-have-lit-up-the-big-screen-but-on/) [Ravish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravish-kumar/) > [Hindi film music has always been completely driven by the plot. We singers never had any say in compositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-bhosle/hindi-film-music-has-always-been-completely-driven-by-the-plot-we/) [Asha Bhosle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-bhosle/) > [I would love 'Aankhen 2' to happen. I would have Govinda and I play these two brothers and having kids who can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/i-would-love-aankhen-2-to-happen-i-would-have-govinda-and-i-play/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [I have to mention that Taapsee and Ayushmann are my favorite actors - or stars, whatever you call them. I love them. Our thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anubhav-sinha/i-have-to-mention-that-taapsee-and-ayushmann-are-my-favorite-actors/) [Anubhav Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anubhav-sinha/) > [My characters in both 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' films were so relatable that every other guy connects with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/my-characters-in-both-pyaar-ka-punchnama-films-were-so-relatable-that/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [I learnt a lot from the directors with whom I have worked like Sudhir Mishra in 'Daas Dev,' Prawaal Raman in 'Main Aur Charles.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/i-learnt-a-lot-from-the-directors-with-whom-i-have-worked-like-sudhir/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) > [It was my dream to work with Badshah and Diljit from the Punjabi industry. I had asked for these two wishes from God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shehnaaz-gill/it-was-my-dream-to-work-with-badshah-and-diljit-from-the-punjabi/) [Shehnaaz Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shehnaaz-gill/) > [With 'Aurangzeb,' I just knew that the film wasn't going to work, though I think it was one of my most underrated performances. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/with-aurangzeb-i-just-knew-that-the-film-wasn-t-going-to-work-though/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [I wish to contribute more to south Indian music, especially Tamil music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-wish-to-contribute-more-to-south-indian-music-especially-tamil-music/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) > [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/) [Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/) > [It is great to see Bollywood celebrities contributing to so many different trends in so many different ways. I think this is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-dutta/it-is-great-to-see-bollywood-celebrities-contributing-to-so-many/) [Lara Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-dutta/) > [Bollywood is just amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sean/bollywood-is-just-amazing/) [Jay Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sean/) > [Learnt a lot like timing, voice modulation from Mohanlal sir. He is perfect in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayantara/learnt-a-lot-like-timing-voice-modulation-from-mohanlal-sir-he-is/) Nayantara [Browse all 4,174 Bollywood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bollywood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The question is - did Richard Attenborough have a right to make 'Gandhi?' And did Danny Boyle have a right to make 'Slumdog Millionaire?' Quite honestly, if they didn't have the right to make these films, I had no right to make 'Elizabeth.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shekhar Kapur" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough-have-a-right-to-make-gandhi/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bollywood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough-have-a-right-to-make-gandhi/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/shekhar-kapur-15487_bollywood_the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough_605888.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/shekhar-kapur-15487_bollywood_the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough_605888.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/shekhar-kapur-15487_bollywood_the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough_605888.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The question is - did Richard Attenborough have a right to make 'Gandhi?' And did Danny Boyle have a right…” — Shekhar Kapur", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shekhar Kapur", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The question is - did Richard...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough-have-a-right-to-make-gandhi/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/the-question-is-did-richard-attenborough-have-a-right-to-make-gandhi/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```