Anil Dhawan best known for his film Piya Ka Ghar, plays a grandfather in Roop-Mard Ka Naya Swaroop. He speaks with SHAlINI SAKSENA about his role in the show
What role are you essaying in Roop-Mard Ka Naya SwaroopIJ
I play Roop’s nana Karsan Das. My daughter is married to the hero who has four children — three daughters and a son. My son-in-law is strict when it comes to dealing with his son. Karsan is a simple and quiet man; not very rich but wants his daughter to be happy. Though he doesn’t visit his daughter often, he does so on his grandchildren’s birthdays.
What should be a grandfather’s roleIJ
Even when a father marries off his daughter, his responsibilities never end. There are situations when a daughter hides things from the father but he wants his daughter to be happy and will want to do everything to help out.
We are seeing you on TV after a while. What was keeping you busyIJ
I have done many TV shows like Parampara and Kora Kagaz. I am basically an introvert. The reason is that overexposure is not good. But I had not taken a break; I am a workaholic. This past year I was busy doing a film with Tabu. I was concentrating on it. I want to do one thing at a time; it is either a TV show or a film. Even with Roop..., I have requested limited shoot days. I just want to keep days free in case a movie comes my way.
You began your career with doing romantic films. What kind of roles are you looking at now in filmsIJ
This latest film that I have done, people will be surprised to see my work. I don’t know how the audience will react to it. I have never done this kind of role before.
Is the content changing on TVIJ
It is difficult to predict what the TV audience will like or dislike just like how the films have changed. If you see Roop... there is a message here. There was a time when films had drama, today, films are based on a topic. Similarly, TV is moving towards this rather than saas-bahu sagas.
Do you think that serials have the ability to change the societyIJ
Yes, definitely. Why notIJ Take Roop... for example. There is one boy among so many women. This boy can never be aggressive, he will be soft spoken and respect women. So people who watch such serials imbibe the message.
Is there a fondest memoryIJ
My fondest memory is that I am still in the industry after 48 years and getting good work. There are few actors my age who are still working, Amitabh Bachchan being one of them.
Is there an actor with whom you would love to work, even for freeIJ
There is no such thing. Every person that I work with is good and I respect each one of them. Everybody in the industry is good and should be respected for what he is.
A word of advise to young actors.
Those wanting to work in the industry need to focus completely on being an actor. When I came from Kanpur to act, I never realised that I would be here almost five decades later. But I focussed on my career and here I am still working. Youngsters should do the same. They should not run after three-four things. Concentrate on being an actor and there is no reason why one would not realise one’s dream.