Comedy typecast limited me as an actor, but helped in life: Arshad Warsi
Actor Arshad Warsi says being typecast as a comedian restricted his opportunities as an artist, but he has no regrets about the journey that also brought him financial success and the chance to eventually explore diverse roles.
Warsi, who plays a powerful dacoit in Tigmanshu Dhulia's gritty drama "Ghamasaan", said he considers himself fortunate to still be offered roles outside comedy, a genre that has defined a significant part of his career.
"As an artist, it (comedy) limited me. But it helped me in my life. I bought bigger cars, better houses. As an actor, it has been a bit of a controlled thing. But honestly, I'm not the person who complains," Warsi told PTI in an interview.
"For me, where I came from, where I am, I've got more than I expected or asked for. So, I have no reason to complain. I kept working. I'll tell you honestly, I'm still that lucky guy who gets to do films like 'Ghamasaan'. Other actors who do comedy are stuck with that," he added.
Warsi, 58, believes audiences and the film industry tend to place actors in fixed categories, making it difficult for them to move beyond their established images.
"It's not just comedy. There are action stars who are stuck with action and they can't do anything else. There are romantic heroes who have to really work hard to break that mould and get into something else. Everybody has gone through that," he said.
Citing Akshay Kumar's transition from action films to comedy and Shah Rukh Khan's move from romantic roles to action, Warsi said every actor has to navigate the advantages and limitations of the image they acquire.
"Akshay did action. He had to really work hard and get into comedy. Shah Rukh had to really work hard and get into action from romantic (roles). So, all of us have our journey and all of us have our pros and cons," he said.
Warsi said Dhulia, who directed "Ghamasaan", was among the filmmakers who could look beyond his comic image. The director had also worked as a casting director on films such as "Bandit Queen" and wrote the screenplay for Warsi's 1996 debut film "Tere Mere Sapne".
The actor said he trusted Dhulia to give him a challenging part and found the experience of playing Maharaj, a feared dacoit operating in the ravines of Bundelkhand, particularly rewarding.
"These kinds of things come very rarely. There are multiple reasons. Firstly, most people don't make these kinds of films. They make one or two. He does and if he casts you, then it's your luck. You get such characters after a lot of do's and don'ts," Warsi said.
In "Ghamasaan", currently streaming on ZEE5, Warsi's Maharaj is pitted against IPS officer Aditya Singh, played by Pratik Gandhi. Rajpal Yadav and Ishita Dutta also feature in pivotal roles.
The actor is currently enjoying what he describes as a creatively fulfilling phase, with his comic role as Gafoor in Aryan Khan's series "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" receiving attention, followed by a cop's role in Rajkumar Hirani's debut OTT show "Pritam and Pedro".
"There's another one coming up called 'Jeevan Bheema Yojana'. I quite like that actually," he said.
Warsi will next be seen in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "King" and the fifth instalment of the "Golmaal" franchise.
Produced by Jyoti Deshpande under Jio Studios, and Piiyush Singh, Abhayanand Singh, Saurabh Gupta and Ashwini Chaudhary under Golden Ratio Films, along with Miten Shah under Yaelstar Films, "Ghamasaan" is currently streaming on ZEE5.
