The veteran actor speaks about his latest film ‘Dharam Sankat Mein’
The recently released film ‘Dharam Sankat Mein’ is the official Hindi adaptation of British satire “The Infidel”. It is also a third satire on Indian religious practices, after ‘Oh My God’ and PK. The film sees veteran actors Paresh Rawal and Naseeruddin Shah sharing the stage together.
Paresh Rawal spoke of the film and his experiences as an actor in it.
Q1. You are an actor who has beautifully tackled both extremes of characters, where on one hand you have played the role of the villain and on the other excelled in playing hilarious characters, leaving the audience rolling with laughter. How do manage to play such different roles?
I’m fortunate to have got the opportunity to play interesting characters. Well, some films are close to the heart while others are close to the pocket. I do commercial cinema because that helps me in sustaining my family and myself, and I do serious cinema as it feeds me as an actor.
I do not understand when actors say that the character they played in some film affected them. I think a good actor needs to possess a ‘switch on and switch off quality’ and that transformation from one character to another is quite important. I hope to continue entertaining the audience and my fans.
Q2. Is there any similarity between ‘OMG!’ and your recently released film ‘Dharam Sankat Mein’?
Dharam Sankat Mein’, has nothing to do with ‘OMG’. It’s a different film all together. One moment you will laugh, and the other moment you will realise that whatever we are saying it’s true.
Q3. Can you elaborate on your character in the film?
It revolves around the story of a man named Dharampal Trivedi, who goes through an identity crisis when he realises that he was adopted when he was young and was actually born to a Muslim family. The movie certainly delivers an important message through situational comedy.
Q4. You are a National Award winning actor yourself so how was it to share screen space with Naseeruddin Shah who, like you, is another one of the finest actors in the industry?
It’s always a joyride to work with him. It’s a learning process for me. He is not only a good actor but also a good human being. I want to have timeless, truth and depth-like Naseer bhai in my career. He has always been my inspiration.
‘Dharam Sankat Mein’ is presented and produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and produced by Sajjad Chunawala, and Shariq Patel from Trigno Media, released by Blue Sapphire Films in association with Wize Mindz Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. in the UK and is already in cinemas.
