Article: MAKING HIS MARK

MAKING HIS MARK

ACTOR MURLI SHARMA DOES VERSATILE ROLES AND FEELS HAPPY THAT THE AUDIENCE RECEIVES THEM WELL

SPARSH SHARMA

Murli Sharma always wanted to be an actor. "I did theatre since my school days as that used to give me the opportunity to bunk my classes. I started realizing soon, however, that I loved it a lot and would not be able to do without it. I had decided that I would become an actor, by profession," shares the tall and handsome guy, who has his roots in Kopar Khairane.
Although his father was not happy with his decision, Murli's elder brother convinced their dad and Sharma had started on his destiny. "I enrolled at Roshan Taneja acting school. The year was 1991 and I was hardly 20 years. Radio plays followed, then theatre and finally, I had made it to the tele-serials' world. My first TV serial was the popular one – Reporter – in the year '93. I also worked as a production manager for an episode of a Marathi serial – Oon Pauss, in which I had a role of a police inspector," tells Sharma, who has made his own mark in the film-world. The turning point in his career came in the year 1998. "I played a eunuch's role in one of the episodes named Ramkali, in the series called Rishtey, produced by Deepak Tijori. Mahesh Bhatt was very impressed with my performance and applauded my work," adds the actor, who has given superb performances in movies like Main Hoon Na, Maqbool, Lamhaa, Apharan, Dhol, Golmaal Returns, 13B etc.
Murli has also given a guest appearance in Salman Khan's latest flick, Dabangg. "Arbaaz Khan has been very close to me and when he asked me to work with Salman, there was no question of not saying yes. Salman is a very positive person and a superb actor. My prayers and wishes for the flick turning into a super-duper hit have come true," adds Sharma, who had also given a guest appearance in the Imran Khan starrer, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.
He was recently seen in a primetime soap opera aired on a leading Hindi channel, in the role of a Hyderabadi don. "The opera – Lagii Tujhse Lagaan – has Paresh Rawal, who is like an elder brother to me; and Hemal Thakkar, who is like a younger brother to me; as its producers. The don's name was Malashwar Ramalingaya and I received tremendous response for it. My mom and bhabhi are both Telugu and so I used to rehearse with them, for this role, taking their inputs regarding the language and speaking style. In Hyderabad, people now ask me if I am from Andhra Pradesh because of the role. Besides I have done Telugu films too. In '08, I was the main villain in Atithi; the film got me the most prestigious award of the Andhra Pradesh state government called the Nandi award, in best villain category. I also did Tantri, working as a villain," shares Sharma, a resident of the city since the last 22 years.
For Murli, his work gives him a high and he cannot imagine a life without acting. The fun of acting, for him, is "not to act". "Cinema is all about realism. The more real you look, the better people can connect with your on-screen role. Acting gives me a high, an adrenaline rush. Bringing my character to life is the most exciting part of this field," tells Murli, who is getting back with Farah Khan after seven years in Tees Maar Khan, releasing in December as also Rohit Shetty's Golmaal 3, releasing in November. "I owe a lot to SRK, Farah Khan, Vishal Bharadwaj, Prakash Jha and Rohit Shetty," he adds further.
He remembers the early years of his struggle, especially around 1988-89, when BEST buses had just started plying to Vashi.
"Vashi and Kopar Khairane are like home for me since more than two decades now, I feel emotionally connected to this place. Both my brother and sister-in-law have been huge pillars of support for me and they have a big house at Kopar Khairane. My niece Nayanika is like my own daughter and I miss nephew Kamlesh, who has gone to Thailand for his MBA. When I am here, I just cut off from the whole world; and switch off my cell phone. It's holiday time. Bhabhi makes lots of good food and the whole family plays games and share quality time. I remember going by buses and trains, during the initial days of my struggle. I used to stay over at a friend's place as I often missed the last train or bus for Vashi. It has developed so much and is a lovely place to live. It has a special significance in my life," feels Murli.

waow .. so MS is quite young, haan .... just few years elder to MR. That's great! LTL has really got a good cast!!