'Bad man' Gulshan Grover turns good now

The original 'bad man' of Bollywood, actor Gulshan Grover, is proud to be called one. In fact, he takes it as a compliment.

"It’s an affectionate way of calling somebody. When you were a kid, and people called you 'fatty', 'fatso', 'shararti' etc., you knew they were being affectionate. I’m proud that people still identify me with 'bad man',” explains the veteran actor.

Grover will soon be seen playing a 'good man' in an educational film on child labour and the importance of education, albeit in an entertaining manner. But the actor admits that he was initially hesitant about taking up the film that eventually earned him a nomination for the National Award for the best actor in a supporting role.

"I was reluctant about how an NGO could make a film. There were non-actors, a director who had no filmmaking experience, no money. But I was wrong. The final product is stunning and has got rave reviews at international festivals across the world. And all the credit goes to director Nila Madhab Panda who knew that an educational film doesn’t have to be boring," says Grover, adding that he plays a Rajasthani man and a complete loverboy, romancing a French girl — a role far removed from his earlier 'bad man' days.

The actor feels that more such films should be made and backed by people in Bollywood to spread awareness about hard-hitting issues. And he can’t stop raving about actor Salman Khan for backing a recent film that shows kids tackling with the big bad world of politics. "I salute Salman Khan for backing the film. It has begun creating interest and the presence of such heavy-weight Bollywood stars does draw attention," explains Grover.

As for his film, the actor feels that the film title, with its reference to former President APJ Abdul Kalam, does evoke interest. But the film, Grover points out, has enough power-packed performances to move beyond the initial lure — the title. The film, by Smile Foundation, is the first feature film to be produced by an NGO.