Better known for his serious roles in Gulal and Sarkar, he is back in action as a villain in Ankur Arora Murder Case. He plays a surgeon who botches up a patient, killing him. MANJARI SINGH chats up the versatile actor
‘Don’t bastardise cinema’
Tell us more about the role
I am playing this top notch surgeon excelling in difficult surgeries. But, one mistake changes his life. Everybody starts blaming him for a death and his achievements do not matter at all. Just like it happens with a sportsman where, most of the times his worst performance gets stuck in public memory, here too the same happens. I play many shades in this film
Again a character with shades of greyIJ
Not just grey, a human being has varied colours and I am glad actors have got the privilege to show shades of human complexities.
How did you prepare for this roleIJ
It was a watertight script so I had the job cut out. I also read up on medical negligence which made me understand my part better. And then there were doctors on the set to tell me about the usage of surgical tools. We have tried to make it as believable as possible.
When do we get to see you in a big budget filmIJ
I don’t understand the concept of big budget films and why makers spend that kind of money to make oneIJ Do they play casino or whatIJ Every film is shot with the same kind of camera. It’s not the case that big-budget films are shot with a gold camera. So, I am happy doing what I am doing.
In an interview you said that 90 per cent of Bollywood is non cinema. ReallyIJ
That’s true, 90 per cent of Bollywood is marketing and the rest cinema.
Please elaborate...
Cinema, for me, is a form of storytelling but most filmmakers today forget the storyline and focus on marketing instead. I am not against marketing but cinema should not be bastardised.
For example, suppose your grandmother is reading you the Ramayana and suddenly she says ‘there’s an item girl who starts dancing to lure the sadhu — it sounds unnatural and out of context. But if she would have said apsaras started distracting the sadhu while he was meditating, that is completely believable. Marketing and cinema are two different departments and should not be merged.