Alter Native

Even for those who don’t know any Urdu/Persian,the languages in which Mirza Ghalib wrote his poetry,every Indian is in some way or the other influenced by his muse,feels character actor of innumerable films and theatre artiste Tom Alter. “The present-day Indian spirit is an essence of Ghalib’s poetry. Directly or indirectly,every attitude and ideal of Indians is rooted in what Ghalib said a couple of centuries ago,” said the actor,in Lucknow on Friday to perform the eponymous role in Ghalib,the play. His Anglo-Indian features obviated his being (type)cast as a British officer in Hindi films still reeling under the Raj hangover,but his chaste Urdu/Hindustani is stuff new actors could take a lesson from.

“I have grown up reading Ghalib,so when it came to playing him I honestly didn’t do much to get under the skin of the character,” said the actor about the play directed by Syeed Alam,playwright,who has earlier even directed a serial on the lives of the Urdu poets. “I am also doing some other biographicals,including one on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and another about KL Saigal with Alam,” said Alter,declining to speak about films at all,other than,“yes,I have some projects in hand,” or,confessing his being a great admirer of actor Irrfan.

“I am a ruthless critic of my work,but sometimes a performance is hampered for reasons beyond one’s control. It could be because of exhaustion or an indifferent audience,but it is not always that I am satisfied with my work despite giving 100 per cent,” said the actor who finds it thrilling to perform on stage in different cities.