For an actor who has given four back-to-back flops, Arshad Warsi comes across as a cheerful guy. Of course Golmaal Again has broken the jinx, but Arshad says, “Sab kuchh first class chal raha hai. Film runs or not, I don’t have shortage of offers. My investment of 20 years of hard work has ensured that I am considered a dependable actor. In spite of Irada, not working, I have lot of films Golmaal series is doing well and I already have the next Munnabhai film in the kitty and another instalment of Dhamaal is lined up as well. These franchises are like my retirement plan,” gushes Arshad.
Refusing to disclose the details, the actor says Rajkumar Hirani will start shooting for the next Munnabhai film after completing the Sanjay Dutt biopic. “He has written the film, only a little detailing is left.”
Arshad says instead of repeating himself, he loves playing characters and likes to work on the idiosyncrasies of each one of them. “In life too, a man is known by his character rather than the clothes he sports or the car he drives. At least, I believe in it.” Despite giving many hits, Arshad admits that he hasn’t been able to develop the aura of a star around him. “It depends on your mindset and the goals you want to achieve. Every person knows in his heart what he wants to achieve and if he honestly works hard in that direction, he gets there. Many feel the stars are like the way they are on screen. The fact it is a façade that they create, and repeat. I am like a cowboy by nature. I love to spend time in a farm by the lake with the horses. Or drive on a bike to Ladakh. Perhaps it has to do with my schooling in a boarding school in Devlali where I came in touch with a lot of army officers. So unlike my colleagues, when I made some money, the first thing I did was to buy a farm house just outside Mumbai to do all that I wanted.”
Wanting to direct
A part of him, adds Arshad, wants to be a director. “It means you could make money but also enjoy anonymity, something an actor can’t have. In London, it becomes very difficult for me to reach from one place to other in time. And in the process my family suffers, something I don’t like.” Talking of family, Arshad says your nature also reflects in the kind of bonds you make. “Right now, my kids are doing mountain climbing in Kerala. They are also adventurous.” Arshad finds ways to follow his adventures. “In South East Asian countries, I put on a surgical mask and do whatever I like to.”
For a long time, filmmakers are playing on Arshad’s comic timing. They have forgotten that the actor had given us an excellent Seher once upon a time. “Woh toh maine ummed bhi chhod di hai (I have given up that hope). Another film that is close to me is Waisa Bhi Hota Hai. Over the years, it has developed some sort of following. Jolly LLB also had different shades.”
But he was not repeated in the sequel. When Fox Star Studios came into play and the budget soared, director Subhash Kapoor handed over the black coat to Akshay Kumar. “That’s why I call myself the darban (doorman) of film industry. I open the gates for new filmmakers and then they leave me to embrace others,” laughs Arshad. “But as I said, I don’t allow it to cloud my mind. I am too grounded and connected to my roots to get frustrated,” sums up Arshad.