Even though I have been stereotyped as a comic actor, I don’t let it affect me-Deepak Dobriyal
7:45 AM
Posted by Fenil Seta
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Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; January 8, 2018)
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Time and again, you have proved your mettle as a fine performer. But, do you think that actors like Irrfan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who also come from a theatre background like you, have had better opportunities?
I used to feel that way when I wasn’t getting work initially. Like they say, empty vessels make the most noise. But, now I don’t feel that way anymore. I went through a phase when I felt bad that many of my friends who I have known from my theatre days, and who are now working in big films, aren’t helping me. Even then, I have never asked them to recommend me. To be honest, I am in a happy place today and have no complaints. In theatre, I have played various kinds of roles. In cinema, I have been appreciated for my comic timing. Even though I have been streotyped as a comic actor, I don’t let that affect me. I am not insecure as a person and I try not to fall prey to the notions harboured by people about me. When I made inroads into films, I wanted people to like me for the characters I essayed on screen and that’s exactly how it has panned out.
Do you feel your serious roles have not earned you enough appreciation?
My character in Dabangg 2 as Genda became very popular and my recent performance in Hindi Medium was also appreciated. While my serious roles have been noticed, I enjoy popularity among the masses for my ability to make people laugh. Within the industry, I am considered to be a versatile actor for my performances in films like Omkara, Shaurya, Delhi 6 and Gulaal.
So, how do you define success?
Success is not about things working according to your wishes. For me, success is the ability to be responsible for delivering one good performance after another.
The promos of Kaalakaandi have quite a few expletives. Do you think movies, which use such language, come under the scanner and are judged severely for their content?
Films have the power to influence. Many people in our country confuse creative freedom and liberties taken by a filmmaker to create the world that they intend to as the real thing. But, our film is an adult one and what has been done as a form of expression should be allowed to thrive. The characters portrayed in the movie use cuss words as a crutch and it is their shortcoming. They belong to a certain milieu and it aids the writer to place them in their world. One can’t take a moral position with regard to this. Secondly, when Tanu Weds Manu was being made, the intention was to make a sweet romantic comedy. Today, it’s a franchise due to its popularity. Apart from that, there are different kinds of audiences and people want to see a variety of content. World cinema and the exposure to content online have led to changing tastes among people.
You have worked with directors who come from different schools of filmmaking. What is unique about each one of them?
I love Akshat Verma’s madness and desire to be experimental. Vishal Bhardwaj’s films intrigue me because they revolve around the personal-political spheres and the works of Shakespeare. Anurag Kashyap’s films try to dig deep into the world of crime. Aanand L Rai has a great hold over narratives that centre on romcoms. But, I have noticed that once a filmmaker becomes a producer, the focus shifts to making profits.
This entry was posted on October 4, 2009 at 12:14 pm, and is filed under
Aanand L Rai,
Anurag Kashyap,
Dabangg 2,
Deepak Dobriyal,
Deepak Dobriyal interview,
Hindi Medium,
Interviews,
Irrfan Khan,
Kaalakaandi,
Tanu Weds Manu,
Vishal Bhardwaj
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