Straight from the heart

There's something about Nana Patekar something in his personality that has always drawn him to the dark side. The actor who plays an encounter specialist in Shagird,tells Screen whats attracting him to such intense roles

You play an encounter specialist in Tigmanshu Dhulias Shagird. But the role is not new to you. In Ab Tak Chhappan too you had essayed a similar role8230;

Ab Tak Chhappans Sadhu Agashe is very different from Hanumant Singh my on-screen character of Shagird. Tigmanshu Dhulia had watched Ab Tak Chhappan and he was very particular that my character in Shagird had to be different from Agashe. Hanumant Singh is a tough Delhi cop. But he is unlike the typical filmi hero. His character has a lot of grey shades and hes not an honest cop. Hanumant is vulnerable and unassuming at times and on some occasions hes a confident bully. He wears his dishonestly on his sleeve and does not shy away from it.When Tigmanshu narrated the script to me,I fell in love with my character. Im sure when you watch the film youll hate Hanumant Singh in the first half but by the end of the film you will love him.

That sounds a lot like Salman Khans character,Chulbul Pandey,from Dabangg!

Unfortunately when you watch the film you will realise that Shagird not as entertaining as the Salman Khan starrer Dabangg. In India if a film does not entertain you then its termed as a documentary. If it only does the job of entertaining the audience,then its not perceived as an honest film. Thankfully Shagrid tries to strike a fair balance between being an entertainer and an honest film.

Critics who have watched Shagird say that you fit the part of an encounter specialist to perfection.

I think the credit should go to my director Tigmanshu. He was the one who seen his Hanumant Singh in me and cast me. I dont usually watch any of the films that I star in,because once I finish dubbing,my contribution is over. Only if I were to direct a film,I would stay with it till the end. But,I made an exception with Shagird. I watched the film and I loved it. I second the critics.

How was the experience working with Anurag Kashyap?

Anurag Kashyap is a brilliant director and a good actor. Normally good directors make awful actors. But there are a few exceptions and Anurag is one of them. He knew what he wanted to deliver and he did it with eloquence. I think that roots from his association with theatre.

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When the script was narrated to you,did you not feel odd that there was no female lead in the film.

For me,the gun is my heroine in the film.

Shagird is unlike the typical entertainer. There is no song-and-dance sequence and no typical filmi romance. So,it didnt feel strange to me that there was no female lead. Rimi Sen stars in the film though. She has been cast opposite Mohit Ahalwat. Im not sure how the audience will react to Shagird but when I sign projects I dont think of the box-office prospects of the film.

You are 60. Do you think theres still room at the top for actors at that age?

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The fact that I am still getting offers will answer the question. When the spotlight is on you,it does not matter how old you are. All that matters is how well you perform.

Whats next?

I have four films in the offing. In two of the films I essay the role of a cop; in one of the films I play a suspended cop. I am also looking forward to Deool,my forthcoming Marathi film.

What kind of roles would you like to essay in the future?

I would love to do Naseeruddin Shahs character from A Wednesday. I will do Bluffmaster or Welcome for a change but,if given a choice I would chose a serious yet small role to a comedy. I would like to work with new directors right now. I am on the look-out for a good script and if the director is good then nothing like it; it will only enhance the experience.

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But if given a choice between comedy and serious roles,what would you choose?

I get paid to look angry on-screen and unfortunately people believe that those roles work at the box-office. I am still to figure that out. I have been in this field for 40 years and as an actor I am very versatile and I can do all kinds of role. I will do comedy as its a part of my job. But if given an option as a viewer to choose between Wednesday and Welcome I would choose the former.

Would we get to see you star in a Hollywood project soon?

Hollywood is next to impossible for me as I think that their English is far superior to mine,and Ill not be able to match up with their English-speaking skills. I remember that a couple of years ago I had dubbed for a Kannada film and I did a good job with the language. So I am guessing that I might be able to manage with English too. But right now I have my quota of Hindi films. So,for me its only Bollywood calling right now.