Arshad Warsi has proved his versatility as an actor in films like Kabul Express (2006), the Munnabhai Franchise and Jolly LLB (2013). He is now gearing up for the release of Irada, an eco-thriller, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Divya Dutta and Sagarika Ghatge. Ahead of the film release, Warsi speaks about his failures and upcoming films.
Would you call Irada a thriller?
There are various kinds of thrillers. There is a regular potboiler that has a bit of sex and violence but this one is an ecothriller because it is a relevant subject. It’s talking about a cause which is quite serious. I never want to see a film that just gives a message because I am not interested in acting in a documentary film. What I liked the most about this film was the fact that apart from the message, there is a lot of excitement in the narration. We have filled in a lot of masala to keep the audiences entertained.
Do you think Bollywood has failed to explore the thriller genre?
The only thing that is actually explored in India is comedy and romance. Apart from this, we don’t try other genres because the chance of losing money is more.
Many believe that you are underrated as an actor. Do you agree?
I think there is a lot more left in me as an actor; there’s so much more I can do. But it is all about time. I don’t think much about it. Earlier, I would live every day, now I live every film. Your last few films have not done well at the box-office.
How do you cope up with failures?
It does not really matter, I mean it matters, but still does not matter. One has to move on as you can’t really control peoples’ likes and dislikes in this stream. Yes, it feels weird. Guddu Rangeela (2015) was a shocker to me because I was confident that people would like it, but it didn’t work. Sehar (2005) was critically acclaimed but we didn’t have that much of money for publicity. It was a small niche film.
How excited are you to get back to the Golmaal space?
We start shooting for Golmaal Again from March. We are eyeing for a late 2017 release. There’s pressure in every sequel, because as an actor it is essential for me to do as good as or better than the previous film. This is the fourth time we are doing it and I hope people love it. Tell us something about Munnabhai 3... I can’t tell you anything about Munnabhai 3 because Rajkumar Hirani will kill me (laughs). All I can say is it’s a film that everybody across the globe can relate to.
When you watch the film you are bound think ‘I wish it were true’.
It’s a very good script and the thought is excellent. It is so relevant today and also comes with a dose of humour. Would it be difficult for you to get into Circuit’s shoes yet again given the decade long break from the franchise? Getting into Circuit’s character would not be a problem because I am aware of the expectation of the audiences. It’s in my head and I know what I did. I can always refer to part one and part two to get the nuances right. Any regrets in your twodecade career in Bollywood? I never regret anything because every mistake is learning in disguise. I just feel bad when the audience has to sit through the bad films.