Even after four decades in the film industry, the way Paresh Rawal chooses a film is the same as it was on day one. Even a small role is welcome, the actor says.

Paresh, who was recently seen in Ajey – The Untold Story Of A Yogi, elaborates, “My reason for choosing a role has still not changed at all. Main koi bhi chhota role karne ko taiyaar hoon, bas film aur uski kahaani sahi honi chahiye. Mujhe koi dikkat nahi hai screen time ki.”

For the 70-year-old, the scale of a film isn’t a deal-breaker either. He shares, “I did The Storyteller (2022), which was a terrific film. Shastry Viruddh Shastry (2023) bhi aayi thi, I have an upcoming film with Adil Hussain. Maza aata hai aisi films karne mein. When you get such roles, it satisfies the actor in you. If I like the role once, then chaahe woh film chhoti bhi ho, and they tell me ‘We won’t be able to afford your market price,’ that is fine by me.”

He adds, “Main phir paise discuss bhi nahin karta hoon. Bas uss picture ka completion hona chahiye. Acchi filmein karne ka aise dil bhi karta hai phir.”

Through the years, Paresh hasn’t just experimented with different film genres but also dabbled in politics. The actor had contested in the 2014 Indian general elections with the Bharatiya Janata Party and was voted Member of Parliament. How does he look back on his stint in politics, given the recent controversies Ajey attracted due to its political plot points?

“Usko political career bolna galat hoga. Ek term tha mehez. Mujhe political career banana hi nahin tha,” Paresh shares. “But I was sure about one thing: main apne character par daag nahin lagne dunga. I wanted to come out clean, and I succeeded in achieving my motive,” he ends.