Arshad Warsi opens up on his career’s first spookfest, Golmaal 5 and Munnabhai 3, and silently dabbling in art of a different kind
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 14, 2020)

Arshad Warsi admits that he loves being home so much, Anees Bazmee once called to point out that the Coronavirus lockdown shouldn’t make any difference to him. His life hasn’t changed much. He is getting narrations on video calls and it’s work as usual, with him enjoying himself hugely.

The actor will next be seen in the Bhumi Pednekar-starrer Durgavati. Their last schedule had just wrapped up when all hell broke loose. Arshad, who plays a politician with grey shades, goes on to rave about his dedicated leading lady. “Bhumi is the female Aamir Khan. She will keep on giving retakes till she is satisfied. Durgavati is a really good but difficult film for an actress. This girl has gone to hell and back while the film was being shot,” he shares.

Meanwhile, Rohit Shetty confirmed to Mirror (November 30, 2019) that he is returning with the fifth instalment of the Golmaal franchise. Quiz Arshad, who plays Madhav, on the series, and he says on this film’s set, everybody just knows what to do. “I believe they are scripting currently. It will be crazy fun, I’m waiting for a narration. The madness of the characters and the fun we have making the film is what brings people in,” he reasons, equally gung-ho about Munnabhai 3. Any updates, you ask Circuit, and he remarks, “I know what everyone else knows. The idea is to make it, when and how is still to be figured out. I’m happy to do the film because people like it, but personally, I want to move on to new things.”

He is kicked about one big budget film. “I’m also excited about a horror film being directed by Samir Tewari, with whom I collaborated on Mr Joe B Carvalho earlier. I have not done horror before, but this story grabbed my attention. It is scary and unpredictable till the last shot,” he promises, certain that things will change after the lockdown. “All the backlog of this year and next year will pile up in 2021. Shooting’s going to be tough, it will take time for things to get back to normal.”

He recently introduced the Instagram world to Arshad, the painter. Shyly, he informs that not many know that he has been painting for a while. “I used to paint a lot before, then, I stopped. Recently, I started again, and have been engrossed since. I hang up all my paintings in a small gallery at home and friends come to pick whatever they like,” he laughs.

On May 2, his daughter Zene turned 13. The celebrations aren’t over yet. “My daughter celebrates her birthday for days with multiple parties. She has kept count and told us that we owe her a number of parties for when she can step out,” he says fondly, adding that even the lockdown celebration was a hoot. “She cut three cakes—in the morning, afternoon and evening, and was on video calls with her friends. She still expects a party after the lockdown,” he sighs.