I want to belong to big cinema
How do you feel when you look back at your career?
I am happy I have been able to do a variety of roles as an actor till date. I learnt a lot about acting from directors like Gogi Anand who had directed 'Itihas', which was Ekta Kapoor's first serial , Sanjay Upadhyay who directed 'Saaya' and Parto Mitra who directed 'Patang'. I did only one serial for Balaji- 'Itihaas' and turned down the offer to act in 'Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani' because I was offered almost half of what I was offered for 'Itihaas' when I was asked to act in 'Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani'.
Weren't you skeptical that the role of Maddy would get you slotted?
I knew the role would get me slotted. I said no to David Dhawan when he offered to cast me as a gay designer in 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'. I said no to 'Yes Boss' when they wanted me to play the role of a pansy in it. It was a big challenge to get into the skin of Maddy in 'Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahin'. I grabbed the offer because I was sure that the role would get me an identity of my own as an actor. Anything, which comes from Diya and Tony, will work.
Though you have acted in films, it is TV, which has made you a star!
It is strange but true that though I had acted in quite a number of films before, it is my stint on TV that has fetched me more recognition as an actor. My first film was Govind Nihalani's 'Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa'. I played an insignificant character who gets married to Jaya Bachchan's daughter played by Mandeep Bhander in the film. It was just a one-scene role, which I did for the sake of Govindji.
How did you bag the role of Maddy in 'Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahin'?
It was Preeti Dayal who recommended my name to Diya for the role of Maddy in 'Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahin'. I had acted as Preeti's husband in the serial 'Patang' directed by Parto Mitra for Channel Nine earlier.
You are known more as Maddy than as Rajesh Khera!
It is true that people know me more as Maddy than Rajesh Khera. If only the serial 'Left Right Left' had been on air on Star instead of Set Max, today I would have become a rock star
Which are the other films that you have done?
It is almost nine years since I started as an actor. I played Amrish Puri's younger brother and Akshaye Khanna's uncle in ' Taal.' Films like 'Hu Tu Tu', 'Josh','Samay', ' Om Jai Jagdish' and 'Karam' followed. My last release as an actor was 'Chain Kuliii Ki Main Kulii', in which I won accolades for playing the role of the weird looking Hitler, the hunch backed warden.
Which are your forthcoming films?
In 'Speed' I play a Pak cab driver while in 'Brahm', I play a baddie, who is a gay dress designer. Pawan Kaul who is directing 'Brahm' told me that he was particular that for the character he did not want to use a Bobby Darling. The brief given to me was that I had to be Maddy without the wig. I play a cameo in ' Victoria No 203'. If I am taken out of the plot, the story will lose its sheen. In 'Whisperers', directed by Rajiv Virani. I play an intelligence officer who is a childhood friend of Manoj Bajpai, who is investigating irregularities in his business. In 'Partition' directed
by Vic Sarin, I am playing a rebellious Jat called Arjuna, whose family is killed by Muslims during the partition.
What according to you is your USP as an actor?
My exclusivity is working to my advantage. I have to my credit in nine years only nine films and nine TV serials as an actor. The best thing about me is that I have not been overexposed like some other actors who are seen in and out of the boob tube every hour. If I were a regular face, Ken Ghosh would not have cast me in his film 'Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii'.
Which do you prefer- TV or films and why?
Any day I would opt for films, because I do not enjoy doing hamaali for 14 hours a day for television serials. I get bored too soon. Besides the fact remains that whether you like it or not, the life of an actor on TV is short because the channel keeps on looking for fresh faces and let's face facts, there is no dearth of fresh faces as far as TV is concerned. The channels look for fresh faces because they come cheap.
Does it mean that you would desert TV for films?
No one will touch you after ten years if you continue to do only TV serials unlike films where it is an altogether different and yet bigger ball game. I do not have great illusions about myself. I do not seek a role as a hero in films, because the kind of Bruce Willis's can happen only in Hollywood, as Bollywood is not open to experiments.
Are you happy as a character actor?
There are pros and cons of being a character artiste. A character artiste can take the liberty of being a part of TV as well as films, unlike the leading man. I want to be tomorrow's Amrish Puri because I am also versatile like him. I want to belong to big cinema like Shreyas Talpade.
Anupamaa
