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| Edited By: Deepali Singh |Source: DNA |Updated: Feb 07, 2018, 07:10 AM IST
Paresh Rawal believes he could not have asked for a better end to 2017 or for a happier beginning to 2018. “Last year, I worked with Yash Raj Films in Tiger Zinda Hai for the first time in my 35-year-long career. And now, I’m working for the first time with Rajkumar Hirani in the Dutt biopic. God has been very kind,” says Paresh, folding his hands in gratitude and looking upwards. We are at the actor’s office in Juhu, and even in the chaotic midst of acting in movies and performing in plays, there is a sense of calm that pervades him.
Ask him about his positive, Zen-like frame of mind and he attributes it to the Dutt biopic. “I think I’m blessed that my desire to work with Rajkumar Hirani has been fulfilled. Then, I got to play someone like Sunil Dutt and the cherry on the cake was working with Ranbir Kapoor,” he says with a smile.
For somebody who has been a part of the film industry for more than three decades, the veteran actor says he still feels gung-ho about getting up each morning and going to the sets. “Work is exciting when it’s challenging. It should be something that makes me afraid initially and prompts me to ask myself whether I’ll be able to do it or not. That fear motivates me to pull up my socks. Otherwise, with so much experience, certain things we can do just like this,” he says with a snap of his finger.
Over a cup of chai, he shares his thoughts on playing an artiste whom he admires, the current crop of actors and filmmakers and his plans for the Modi biopic...
First of all, he’s been my favourite actor and human being. I have met him two or three times. The first time, a friend of mine had some cancer-related issue, so we went to meet Dutt Saab. Then, after the Bombay riots in 1992-93, a token fast had been organised, in which both of us had participated. He had to deal with a lot of things — his wife’s illness, his son going adrift — but in spite of that, he was a dignified man. When your character and values are good, only then can you carry on like that. The only other person who comes to my mind when I think about all this is (Amitabh) Bachchan saab. Despite facing so many hurdles in his life, he never had a bad word to say about anyone. God was with him. You get to learn a lot from people like them.
It was such a huge challenge. You think that it’s about mimicking his mannerisms or his walk. Haath paer koi bhi hila dega uski tarah, magar aankh mein baat leke aani hai. It was important to look like a lost child who doesn’t know what to do. That’s what Ranbir has managed to do. Plus, I think he’s a great actor. Look at his choices. No faaltu roles! He has done films like Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year and Wake Up Sid. An actor is known by his choices, not by his box-office figures. And Ranbir (Kapoor) has shown that. Humko bhi aise actor ke saath kaam karne mein mazaa aata hai, varna humko bhi boriyat ho jaati hai.
Yes, we are making it. The script is almost locked. There are one or two issues yet to be resolved, then we will move ahead with it.
Only I can play Modi (smiles). I say that even at the cost of sounding pompous because I really love him. Baat samajh mein aati hai unki. I have observed him a lot. I am also acting in a film on the 2016 Uri attack, where I play the role of National security advisor Ajit Doval. We have been talking about who should play Modi in that. I said just by sporting a white beard, someone can’t be Modi on screen. Aankhon ka power aur anguish hai Modi. People have tremendous faith and trust in him. They know this man is right. Some mistakes might happen lekin accha kaam karte karte galti ho rahi hai.
According to me, the golden period of films has started. We are going to go very far. Look at the new breed of writers, directors and actors. Whether it’s Rajkummar Rao, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Irrfan Khan, Sushant Singh Rajput or Vicky Kaushal — pakad pakad ke character karte hain. They don’t do 10 films together, they will do just one but they will hold it together. They have enriched the acting space. Work ethics have changed. You get to see a written, full-bound script. It’s a positive and hopeful sign. I’m really happy that I’m getting to be a part of such wonderful stories. I just have to do one thing, and that is to keep myself fit and healthy.
