After 430 shows, all over the world, of the popular play Dear Father, senior actor Paresh Rawal is now looking forward to reprising the role in a Gujarati film. Excited that he would be acting in a Gujarati film after 40 years, after his last outing Parki Jani (1991), Rawal explains, “Dear Father is close to my heart. I wanted to turn this play into a film script for a long time. I have been doing plays for many years and have exhausted most of them. I wanted this story to reach a wider and diverse audience. I also wanted to be part of a meaningful and valuable film, made in my mother tongue - Gujarati. Glad to get a chance to do a Gujarati film after a long time”.

He explains that the play has a good story and is an emotional thriller, but turning it into a good screenplay took some work. He is glad that the team was able to bring it to fruition. “The film will have a small cast, so there won’t be any hassle while shooting or else amid the pandemic, shooting with a bigger unit has its own challenges. Primarily, it is the story that drew me and drove me to turn it into a film. In terms of the screenplay, the story will be racy and gripping while my approach towards acting will be unlike my theatre performances. Over there, one has to be loud for the audiences in the back. In cinema, you can be subtle and can internalise feelings and emotions,” he says.

Up next, Rawal will be seen essaying the same role, played by the late Rishi Kapoor in Sharmaji Namkeen. He shot for the scenes required to complete the film after Kapoor’s demise and shares he got very emotional while performing.

The actor also admires the concept, wherein after the death of an actor, another actor essays the same role completing pending portions. “It is a unique concept and I felt very different while shooting. Walking in his steps and working on his characterisations were difficult initially. But, with the help of the director and co-actors, I completed the film. In fact, in recent years, I have not come across a script as good as Sharmaji Namkeen. A slice-of-life film with an endearing story,” he explains.

With his recent film releasing on OTT instead of in theatres, Rawal says he understands the producer’s dilemma. He replies, “What can one do? How long can you hold on to a film? The economy is being affected. The producer’s money is stuck in one film, he won’t be able to make another project and thereby people won’t be hired. So many people are dependent on shoots and the entire cycle has to work for people to be employed.”

The senior actor admits that while OTT tickles his curiosity, he is waiting for a project that is both “interesting and good”.

Ask him about the pandemic and the last trying 15 months and he reveals, “I focussed on my health and tried to stay as fit and healthy as possible. I also kept my mental health in check by reading, watching films and making time for myself.”