The good fella

Robert De Niros role in The Untouchables tops Shreyas Talpades list of best performances
Robert De Niros role in Brian De Palma-directed The Untouchables 1987 had a profound influence on me. I watched the film quite later on in life,after I had become an established actor. As I come from a middle-class Marathi family,I was never exposed to films. Even after graduating,I wasnt sure for three years whether I would be an actor or not. But after dabbling in Marathi theatre,I decided to take the plunge into acting and started watching films furiously.

I began watching a few English comic films. Someone suggested I should watch The Untouchables because of the slick action and chase sequences in it. After watching the film,I became a big fan of De Niros style of acting. The manner in which he tackled the role of Al Capone in the film was effortless and suave. He is cunning,ruthless and simply awesome in the film and brings out the true essence of the character. That is what appealed to me.

It is not as though Bollywood did not appeal to me. I have always admitted to be influenced by Amitabh Bachchan but De Niro tops my list of favourite actors. He has a certain charisma that gives him a different aura on screen.

Since watching The Untouchables,I have religiously watched his other projects like Goodfellas and Heat. I think he fits the description of a classic actor. Whichever character he portrays,he succeeds in connecting it with the audience. I believe that actors like him put in a lot of homework for their character and that is what I try to do with my characters too. If you are clear about the background of the character,the performance becomes more concrete. I have never met De Niro but I would love to,given a chance.