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Amrish Puri: 70 and going strong
For this veteran actor, life promises to get better
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After celebrating his 70th birthday last week, Amrish Puri is set for another innings.
He looks forward to his latest film Gurudev Bhalla's
Shararat, scheduled for a July 12 release. Due for release last year, the film was delayed because of the September 11 terror attacks in New York.
For Puri,
Shararat symbolises another turning point in his career.
He has acted in a number of films before he was noticed in Shekhar Kapur's
Mr India and labelled as India's most effective villain since Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay). Soon after, he moved on to softer, character roles (Pardes, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jagenge).
Kshama Rao catches up with the veteran actor:
Shararat is a film on old age, in this age of youthful films. Your comment?
I feel good that a filmmaker has tried to bring out the problems of old age. It is a fact of life, just like death. No one can escape it, and it is important that everybody respects it. Not everyone treats their parents or senior members of their family with respect and affection.
So the seniors had a blast while shooting this film?
Undoubtedly. We were all old people without makeup. The look was natural. There were no young men passing off as oldies. Needless to say, we had a great time interacting with each other.
We shot nonstop at Manali, Himachal Pradesh, for 45 days. We just got into our characters with ease. Even Abhishek Bachchan (who plays the lead role), mingled with us easily. I must say that he has a lot of promise. For someone who has a legend for a father [Amitabh Bachchan], Abhishek has his own personality. It is unfortunate that he has not got the right outlet to show his talent. Once he does, he will make his mark.
Tell us about your role.
I play Prajapati, one of the members of an old home. I am the only one who has a room all to myself. I am a tough nut to crack, with whom Abhishek always has a problem. But there is a soft side to Prajapati, which is revealed later in the film. It is a very interesting character.
What other films are you working on?
There is Kashmir Hamara Hai produced and directed by Ratan Irani. It focuses on the fight between Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir against terrorism. I play a Kashmiri pandit. That is a good film to look forward to.
Would you like to do negative roles again?
A role like Mogambo (in Shekhar Kapur's Mr India) is hard to come by. And to think I was not even supposed to be in the film. Did you know I was cast after the film was 60 per cent shot. My portions were added later.
An actor is like a diamond mine. Kab kaunsa heera baahar nikal aaye woh bata nahin sakte (One cannot say when a diamond will emerge). Besides, the director should know how to bring out the best of an actor. If some interesting villainous role comes by, I will do it.
Who do you think is a villain to watch out for?
*laughs* Jhagda karvaogi kya? (Will you make us fight?) We are all terrific.
Text: India News Feature Service