IBNMovies talks to Bollywood funnyman Rajpal Yadav, whose film Kushti released on May 14. Excerpts.
You play the role of postmaster Chander who falls in love with Laadli.
Yes, I fall in love with Nargise in the film. I will not tell much about the story but the film has three dimensions to it. It is a mixture of black humour, entertainment and emotions.
On the sets of Garam Masala, you had jokingly said to Nargise that we should be paired opposite each other in a film. In Kushti, the joke has turned into a reality.
I share a very good rapport with Nargis. Yes, on the sets of Garam Masala I did tell her that, but without realising that it will be true in a few years. I really enjoyed working with her. It's like when you have a proper tuning with someone, everything falls into place. She is very talented and very cooperative.
Give us an honest answer. How much did you know about Khali before signing the film?
When I signed the film, Khali was not so famous at that time. Dalip Singh Rana, who is seven feet tall, was supposed to play the role. Obviously, that character was important and the director had a vision about it. But later, Khali became a superstar and he was signed to play that role. No changes were made to the character. It was the same. Just that Khali was a brand and he added a lot of attraction to the film.
You started your career 10 years back and till date you have done more than 150 films? Would you like to believe that you have achieved whatever you wanted to get from this industry?
I am a very positive guy. I never think about my achievements. Yes, whatever I have achieved, little stardom and money, it is because of my hard work. I would like to believe that I am a student of acting. Every day I learn something new. Every morning when I get up, my mind is empty. Then as the day progresses, I observe and try and do different things in my acting.
Nargise calls you the Charlie Chaplin of Bollywood? Your take on that.
Everyone has their own way of complimenting and if she calls me that, I feel honored. But frankly, no one can replace Charlie Chaplin. Everyone has their own destiny.
Any funny scenes you remember while shooting with Khali?
So many of them. Rajpal standing in front of Khali is a joke in itself. After doing a fight scene with me, he says, 'I am happy'! What do I say?
From playing character roles to playing lead roles, you have come a long way and evolved as an actor.
I think the audience has a major role to play in this transition. It all started with Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon, which was appreciated. Also, Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh, though not a super hit, stood out and managed to entertain people. I don’t believe in serious cinema. At the end of the day, the motive of the film should be entertainment. A film like Taare Zameen Par kept the issue alive till the end but also entertained. I am glad that character actors are being given a chance to play pivotal roles.
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