Murali Sharma has spent over two decades slipping into vastly different characters across Hindi and South cinema. Now, as he makes his OTT debut with Super Subbu, he says the size of a role has never mattered as much as what he can bring to it.

“I only look at how much I can contribute to a character. I’ve never gone by the length of a role. I’ve been fortunate to play different roles. People call me the quintessential father in Telugu cinema, but I’ve never worried about being typecast. Every role deserves your absolute best.”

Sharma recalls that recognition didn’t come overnight. “My friends had something called the ‘Spot Murli Contest’ because I’d usually be standing behind the villain or a minister in a safari suit,” he laughs. He says things changed after Maqbool and Main Hoon Na released in 2004.

“I’m grateful to Vishal Bhardwaj and Farah Khan. Those films changed everything. I still remember a group of college students recognising me at a theatre in Vashi. It was a thrilling moment,” he says.

Talking about what attracted him to his character Kukuteshwar Rao or Kuku, in Super Subbu, he says, “I loved the way he walks, talks and carries himself. He’s irritating, yet interesting enough to keep you watching. I enjoy creating those little details. I wanted my OTT debut to be special. There were offers before, but I’m glad I waited because Super Subbu felt right.”