Sidharth Malhotra would be good: Jackie Shroff

Casting around the iconic Ram Lakhan’s remake has taken Bollywood-watchers by storm. Arjun Kapoor, Anil’s nephew is a popular favourite to play his uncle’s Lakhan in the remake, but Anil himself feels Ranveer Singh should play him. There is, however, little consensus about who should play Ram’s role. 

When the original Ram — Jackie — was asked about this, he says, “I think Sidharth (Malhotra) would be a very good choice. I have worked with him in Brothers and I’ve seen that he has the same level of sincerity that I had. Ram is someone who is very respectful to his mother, very loving to his brother and yet, is very strict as a police officer. He has all these qualities and I am sure will do a good job.”

With all the drama, comes the hype. And though, most actors would not be in favour of remaking their original films, Jackie is of a completely different opinion. “If an iconic film like Devdas can be remade, why not this? Besides, I have  worked in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas which was a remake. Brothers, too, is a remake of Warriors. It’s just the actors who change, people’s emotions don’t. The colour of tears hasn’t changed and the brother and mother relationship hasn’t changed. I like remakes and don’t think there is any harm in remaking films as long as the essence is intact,” he explains.

But is Ram Lakhan worth all the hype, we ask? “Of course, it is. Dhina Dhin Dha is iconic to this day, Tera Naam Liya is the most romantic song ever. It had Madhuri Dixit and Dimple Kapadia, two of the most beautiful women in the film. I can’t speak for Anil, but there was Jackie Shroff — the most handsome man in the film. I see no reason for the film to not be remade.”