In a career spanning over 35 years, Jaaved Jaaferi has worn several hats with equal élan — model, actor, voice artiste, dancer, choreographer and politician, to name a few. However, he hasn’t ticked off his wish to wear the director’s hat yet. He says, “I have directed a few ad films in the past. I could have forayed into film direction, if I had somebody who would have taught me time management. With direction you get to head a creative process. I would like to do that, hopefully soon.” In a chat with us, Jaaved speaks about the projects he missed out on, his son Meezaan Jafri and more. Excerpts:

Now that his son Meezaan has forayed into Bollywood, how does Jaaved guide him? He replies, “One thing that I learnt from my father (the late actor Jagdeep) is that you should treat your work as worship and not take it lightly. I’ve told Meezaan the same. I have explained to him not to keep material objectives because when you do that, you tend to take up any and every project to make it happen.” 

Jaaved adds, “I also tell him to not go by the number of social media followers; they don’t make your film work. If that was the case, then every Salman Khan movie would have been a superhit and would’ve crossed Rs. 500 crores. So, I tell him that kaam pe focus karo, aapka kaam bolega.”

However, there is one role that the actor would like to see his son in. “I would like Meezaan to play Anil Kapoor’s role if Meri Jung is ever remade. That’s a strong role and he’s got the personality to pull it off.”

Recalling the opportunities that he missed, the Dhamaal actor reveals, “After Boogie Woogie, I was approached for a talk show by the same channel. Things didn’t work out from my side and I missed the window. The channel eventually made Movers & Shakers. I regret not doing that.”

Another project that Jaaved had the opportunity to be a part of was Anurag Basu’s Life In A Metro, which didn’t materialise. He shares, “Irrfan had some other commitments and couldn’t take it up. So, the makers approached me. Things were almost finalised when Irrfan said he could do the film. I feel it wasn’t a film that was supposed to happen with me.”

But the actor doesn’t have regrets. “I can’t keep regretting or fretting over things that weren’t meant to be. I believe that what you have in hand is what you make the best of,” he says.

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Fondly remembering his late father, the legendary Jagdeep, who passed away last year, Jaaved says, “He had immense love for the country, its people and culture. His dedication towards his craft was inspirational. He would always say that it is an actor’s job to provide wholesome entertainment to a person who is spending a part of his hard earned money to watch you perform. There were things that I wanted to tell my father and there were things that I wanted to do for him.”