Jimmy Shergill is either playing a cop or a gangster. He tells Karan Bhardwaj how these characters helped him prove his mettle
He started as a chocolatey boy in films like Mohabbatein, Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai and Dil Hain Tumhara. But it was filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia who portrayed Jimmy Shergill in different characters and brought out the diversity that the actor can play excellently. Shergill, now more famous for his Saheb’s portrayal in successful franchise of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, is gearing up for another intense character in Dhulia’s Bullet Raja. It’s an action entertainer and also stars Saif Ali Khan and Sonakshi Sinha in lead roles. “It’s a young character. Rudra and Raja (Saif) are out of college and want work. Rudra joins a small company,” said the actor. The movie boasts of some breathtaking action sequences and Shergill, who was recovering from illness during the shoot, found it pretty hard. “I had just got up from bed. My neck was still strained. So all those fights and jumps over cars were quite demanding,” he said.
Dhulia is a mentor, friend and a critic. Shergill’s association with him is a decade old. “Tigmanshu and I have a long association which began from Haasil. We have always been friends. His knowledge of cinema is superb. I always fall back on him. If I am confused about something, I call him. We got little stuck while writing the script for Dharti (Punjabi). At one point, I didn’t understand where the script was going. So I asked him and he came up with some good suggestions,” he said.
The 42-year-old realises Dhulia’s contribution to his career as well. His films have given him critical as well as commercial acclaim. “I remember I was in Canada when he called me for Sahed Biwi Aur Gangster. For the sequel, I was little doubtful of a character sitting in a wheelchair. But he told me to see the final output. He has been able to tap my talent. Nobody knew I would be able to perform such characters,” he said.
In the last few films, Shergill has either played a cop or a gangster. How does he manage to play two contrasting charactersIJ “Even I am confused. But I am glad that such offers are coming my way. They are some of the fabulous scripts written today. I make sure that I don’t repeat myself. If I looked sober and sincere policeman in A Wednesday, I was a royal gangster in Saheb franchise. I tell every director to craft something new for me,” he said.
Aren’t you scared to be typecastIJ “I am already typecast. People are offering me similar roles. But I choose very carefully,” he said. like most actors, Jimmy, too, had his low-phase. But he has his mantra. “There have been tough times. During Maachis, Gulzar sir told me that the worst thing which could happen to any actor is to sit at home. So one just has to keep working. last two years were not good but I am back with a bang,” he said.