Behind the Screen

“I’m a huge believer of destiny and astrology,” he says. The rings on his fingers and the change in his surname,from Shergill to Sheirgill,doesn’t matter to him anymore. “Predictions are guides. At the end of the day,hard work is a key ingredient,” says the actor,who gave up participating in car rallies and made his way from Patiala in Punjab to Mumbai,on the insistence of his cousin in the early nineties. Gulzar had started work on Maachis and the caste was almost finalised,when Sheirgill,fresh out of Roshan Taneja’s acting school in Mumbai,went to assist Gulzar. But the filmmaker had other plans. “He told me,grow a beard,I have a role for you,” recalls Sheirgill. The film was released in 1995 and a lanky Sheirgill had earned the golden key to tinsel town.

The next two years saw the release of several romantic films,including Mohabbatein,Dil Vil Pyar Vyar,Dil Hai Tumhara,Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai,Jahan Tum Le Chalo and Kehta Hai Dil Baar Baar. “It was a demanding and maddening phase. I did it without thinking or taking a break,” says the actor. He worked with big banners and in big films,but what Sheirgill looked at was the bigger picture. He also started acting in Punjabi cinema,which was on a revival mode in early 2000. While the critically acclaimed Haasil got him rave reviews,it was only after a long sabbatical abroad that Sheirgill embarked on a new beginning. “I started taking it easy and weighed my options,” says Sheirgill,who simultaneously rose to stardom in Punjabi cinema,with hits like Yaara Naal Baharan,Mel Karade Rabba,Munde UK De and the recent blockbuster,Dharti,which also saw him debut as a producer. “I do Punjabi films out of love. I want to revive it as sensible cinema,one which entertains and makes money,” says Sheirgill,who feels that good films will attract investment and raise the bar of Punjabi cinema.

All set to produce the Punjabi film Tor Mitran De and make his debut as a producer in Hindi cinema,it’s Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster that is keeping him excited right now. Based in a small town in the North India,the film revolves around a royal family,that has a nawab (Sheirgill),his begum,(Mahi Gill) and a gangster,played by Randeep Hooda. “It’s a modern day take on Guru Dutt’s 1962 film,Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam,but this sahib is different. He is someone who has seen glorious days and to maintain them,he turns into a gangster,” says Sheirgill. He adds,“I like trying out new characters,those which have a shock and awe value,are intense and tempestuous as well as those which are light-hearted.” Perhaps that’s why he likes his role as a henpecked husband in Shoojit Sircar’s Johnny Mastana,which releases at the end of this year. Does he wish for super stardom? “No. Meaty character roles are far more challenging,” says he.