I have no ambition to become a superstar

Bakul Thakkar of Lalli Chachu fame is an actor for all media - stage, television and films. PREMA K chatted him up

You've become popular as 'Lalli Chachu'
(Laughs) Lalit Kapoor of 'Kkusum' has been my most popular character, to date. It was a very well-etched out character and it shaped out very well. I also think I did justice to it. I'm married to a gold-digger in it. She does everything for money and I keep revealing that side of her. It was a funny track that people liked.

What are you working on currently?
I've just returned from a long shoot for a tele-film that is being produced and directed by Suhasini Mulay for Doordarshan. It will also be aired internationally. The Indian Government has commissioned stories of some Sahitya Academy Award winners to be made into films. The film that I'm acting in is called 'Agantuk' and has been written by Dhiruben Patel. It's to be made as a bilingual; in Hindi and Gujarati.

What's it about?
'Agantuk' means stranger. It is about three brothers. I play the youngest brother who decides to take up 'sanyas'. The story begins with me coming back to civilisation after 12 years. My dying Guruji tells me that one has to be a sanyasi from within. My brothers and their wives don't welcome me back. I'm quite amused at their reaction. One day we are all going out and a beautiful girl who looks like someone from an affluent family, falls at my feet. Her younger brother is ill and she wants me to visit him and cure him. She was my disciple at the ashram. I start visiting her house and the boy is cured. Everyone starts believing that I'm a Godman. I tell them it was the strength of prayers that helped him but they refuse to listen. The girl is very attracted to me but I refuse, as I'm a sanyasi at heart. It's due for an April release. I'm also doing a Hindi play.

Tell us about it
It's produced and directed by Shubha Khote. It's called 'Mera Naam Joker' and as the name suggests, it's a comedy play. But it's not slapstick comedy. It's situational where each one misunderstands what the other is saying. It's got Shubha Khote, Bhavana Balsaver, Kiran Karmarkar, and me. It's opening sometime in March. I'm basically a theatre person so I enjoy doing plays.

You've done a couple of popular television shows before this
Like we've already discussed, I've done 'Kkusum'. The serial is getting over now. As far as we are concerned, it's over. We've stopped shooting for it. I've also done 'Piya Ka Ghar' in which I am administered euthanasia as I'm paralysed chest downwards. I did a cameo in 'Shagun' where I played Surbhi Tiwari's husband.

Which has been your favourite serial so far?
'Tujpe Dil Qurbaan', a serial on the Indian Army. Parmeet Sethi, Rohit Roy, and myself were playing three army officers. It dealt with the personal lives of army officers. It's my favourite serial. We really worked hard for it. We had to undergo Commando training for it and we shot on actual locations in Belgaum and Pune.

Any dream role?
There was a writer, Kanhaiyalal Munshi. He has written a book, 'Paathan Ka Prabutva'. I'd love to act in it if it's made into a play, serial or film form. 'Agantuk' comes very close to it.

How about films?
I played a gay in 'Mumbai Matinee'. I played a pilot in 'Agnipankh'. I've also done a murder mystery, 'Kaun'. It's complete and should release soon. I'm supposed to be doing Neeraj Vora's next directorial venture. I'll know the details in a few days.

You've been doing very little work on television?
I've only done interesting work. Money is important to me but I can only do good, quality work.

How would you like to see yourself five years from now?
I would like someone who's seen me over those five years to remark, 'how he's grown as an actor and human being!' I have no ambitions to become a superstar but I want to be known as an excellent actor.

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