Sharad Kelkar on 15-year stint in Bollywood playing supporting roles, portraying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Ajay Devgn’s next and life after Baahubali
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 10, 2019)

Sharad Kelkar entered showbiz in 2002. After finishing as a finalist in a modelling pageant, he ventured into TV. His first major success came with the 2005 daily soap Saat Phere. At the peak of his career, Sharad decided to graduate to films. Fifteen years after a cameo in Priyadarshan’s Hulchul, the actor is set to deliver what he considers to be one of the biggest performances of his career—Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Ajay Devgn’s titular role in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.

Sharad says, “It was a big responsibility as no one had portrayed the character in the recent past in Bollywood. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is treated like God in Maharashtra and even one wrong gesture can create problems. But it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If it hadn’t come my way, I’d have asked for it. For any Marathi actor, the answer would always be ‘yes’ to playing him.”

At the film’s trailer launch recently, Sharad corrected a scribe when they referred to his character as ‘Shivaji’. “It came out casually. We need to be more careful. It’s our duty to respect a hero who was the pride of India. We address Gandhiji as Mahatma Gandhi, right? People have expectations from me; I need to be careful,” he reasons.

Sharad has also dabbled in voiceacting and recently tasted success with the eponymous character in the Hindi version of S S Rajamouli’s Baahubali. Pointing this out makes him blush. “Sometimes I feel overwhelmed (by the love), sometimes I just laugh. I try to avoid (the adulation), but you can’t hide your voice. I am told my voice is number 2 in India, after Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan’s,” he laughs. Does he agree with the comparison? “I guess, my voice has a texture that people like, but I don’t think I am the number 2 voice in India.”

He adds that such compliments weren’t common before Baahubali. “People would appreciate my voice but publicly no one gave a damn. After Baahubali, things changed. As an artist, it’s a great achievement that I have a Rs 500 crore film under my belt,” he beams.

Sharad’s Bollywood stint has seen only supporting roles. Ask him if that bothers him and he says, “In TV, success is measured by the duration of a show. I realised I wasn’t growing as an actor there. Besides, many successful actors’ careers started with character roles, like Manoj Bajpayee, Kay Kay Menon, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Boman Irani. I think I am on the same path.”

To him, the industry has been sweet and accepting. “This is my third film with Ajay sir. I have worked with Akshay (Kumar) sir and Riteish (Deshmukh) as well. Now, let’s see who gives me my first lead,” he laughs.

Riteish, in whose Marathi home production, Lai Bhaari, Sharad featured, has been planning a film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for over five years. “We’ve been chatting about his film. It’s in the scripting stage. When you are making a film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, you have to be responsible with not just his portrayal but with the whole film. It’s a big film, so they are taking their time,” he informs. The actor’s own home production, Idak: The Goat, released in 2017. There are plans to produce more films, in Marathi and Hindi, but that will happen gradually.

Riteish with brothers Dheeraj and Amit Deshmukh

Riteish Deshmukh on why he’s not interested in rajneeti despite being Vilasrao Deshmukh’s son, what he finds fascinating about the Tanaji chapter in history, and fourth instalment of Dhamaal
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 11, 2019)

His mood is as cheerful as the red jacket he is wearing. With the sun on his back and the calming blue of the sea before him, Riteish Deshmukh sits back to take our salvos. And this time, he is not three-and-a-half foot, but all of five feet and nine inches tall. Excerpts from an interview:

Your last release, Housefull 4, was panned by all the critics as abysmal in its efforts to raise laughs. Did that worry you?
We knew what we were getting into with this franchise. May be the critics didn’t like it. But from its first Monday, the audience took over and then, there was no stopping it. Sometimes, we get carried away by what people are saying on the social media, but it is equally important to see what is happening on ground. People in large numbers have enjoyed and one must acknowledge that.

You once said that the adult comedy genre had reached its saturation point. Do you fear the same happening with family entertainers like Housefull?
It reached a saturation point from the perspective of the audience. The kind of material that I was offered at one point had nothing new to offer, it was all so monotonous. As far as comedies, there is still a lot of scope. For example, Housefull 4 was about reincarnation. And I would like to be a part of films which explore new dimensions in this genre.

You have another film with Sajid Nadiadwala, Baaghi 3, in which you play Tiger Shroff’s cop brother.
We were half way through the Housefull shoot when I got a call from Sajid. He wanted me to hear the script of Baaghi 3. I was surprised by the offer, but when I heard the narration, I discovered it’s an extraordinary story and was on board immediately.

This Friday, you have another release coming up in Marjaavaan and writer-director Milap Zaveri describes your character, Vishnu, as the Raavan of his plot. Would you agree?
(Laughs) Milap calls me the Raavan of his life. It’s a synonym for evil… the ultimate obstacle in one’s path. Gabbar was the Raavan of Sholay, likewise, Vishnu is the Raavan of Marjaavaan.

Did you take on the film for the challenge of playing a three-and-a-half foot baddie?
It all came together as a package. Yes, the role is challenging and blended well with the narrative. It doesn’t work when you have a great character in a bad script. I had to do every shot five times and act against the green screen. When I spoke my lines, I couldn’t look my co-star in the eye because our eye-lines didn’t match. Though technology helped, we didn’t go the whole hog like Zero (SRK’s space drama) due to budget constraints.

Do you think Ek Villain opened new avenues for you as an actor. Before that you were mostly cast in comedies?
That was off-beat casting at the time and I agree that it opened new doors.

Marjaavaan initially was perceived as a sequel to Ek Villain.
Was it? But when you see the film, you will realise that it is a distinctly different story. Calling Marjaavaan, Ek Villain 2 is like calling Ram Balram a sequel to Sholay because both films featured Amit ji (Amitabh Bachchan) and Dharmendra ji.

Mohit Suri is spinning a sequel now…
(Shrugs) Well, I died in the first film, so I can’t be a part of the sequel. But I am looking forward to it.

You have announced a film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj…
We have reworked it a bit and should lock the script soon. With a subject like this, it’s a huge responsibility to get everything right which is why the scripting took longer than expected but we should go on the floors next year.

Ajay Devgn’s Tanhaji is about his commander-in-chief, Tanaji Malusare, who fought various battles alongside Shivaji Mahara j. Won’t there be an overlap?
It’s a great chapter from our history and I am looking forward to Ajay’s film. In school text books, there’s just a paragraph on Tanaji. So it’s important to know what he stood for, learn about his bravery, his love for his land and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I am fascinated with this chapter.

Despite coming from a family of politicians, you have managed to keep yourself away from rajneeti…
I am my own person and while I respect everyone’s views, my job is to act in films, and that’s what I am doing. I leave politics to my brothers.

But weren’t you ever attracted to power?
I have seen it all my life, so power has never really been attractive. I am happy acting, that’s power for me.

Has your script selection changed after becoming a father? What are the dining table discussions like with your wife (Genelia D’Souza)?
My script selection is still the same. As far as dining table discussions go, we discuss everything that a husband and wife do—from what our kids eat to what happened at their schools and our gym. We even read scripts together.

Finally, is Housefull 5 and a Dhamaal 4 in the works?
It’s too early to think about Housefull 5, but I hope it happens. And we have discussed an idea for Dhamaal 4. I am sure Indu ji (director, Indra Kumar) is working on it.

Riteish Deshmukh reveals that the film could be a Hindi-Marathi bilingual, his plans to produce another Marathi film, and his future in politics
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 7, 2017)

After collaborating with National Award-winning filmmaker Ravi Jadhav for his first Marathi production Balak-Palak in 2013, following up with the director’s Bollywood debut, Banjo, three years later, which featured him in the lead, Riteish Deshmukh will now play Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the director’s upcoming biopic on the warrior king.

“We have just finished our first draft and after a few revisions we will get into prep. The film will roll next year,” the 38-yearold actor-producer informs Mirror, adding that he is actively involved with the scripting and has been reading books like Vedh Mahamanawacha, Shree Raja Shivchatrapati and Shivcharitra among others. “At the moment it is a Marathi film but by the time we go on the floors, it may become a Hindi-Marathi bilingual. We will take a call on that later.”

The Shivaji biopic is Riteish’s fifth production after Balak-Palak, another National Award winner in 2014, Yellow, followed by the super hit Lai Bhaari which opened the same year and the recently released Marathi crime thriller, Faster Fene. “I’m glad that the first few films we have produced have been in different genres and were appreciated by the audience. When you work with low budgets, one has no option but to work on content and within the space offered, scale up your product,” he reasons, admitting that limitations of regional cinema pushes him as a filmmaker to new creative heights.

He goes on to inform that it was his father, the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, who once asked him why he was only doing Hindi films and not looking towards Marathi cinema. “At that point no offers were coming my way but after a decade in the industry, I wanted to make films but wasn’t sure what I wanted to produce. So, then, I decided to dive into Marathi cinema. The success of Balak-Palak encouraged me to push for something different,” Riteish reminisces.

He goes on to say that Marathi filmmakers are now reaching out to him to present their films but he is quick to add that his company has taken a conscious decision to only back scripts they are involved with since the beginning. “We also want to get into the digital space now,” he asserts.

He maintains that his actress wife Genelia D’Souza and he are a great team. He picks out the scripts and bounces them off her. “I had shared the idea of Faster Fene which was set in the ’70s with her and she came up with the brainwave of transplanting it in the present time so it caters to today’s audience. She was the one who set up the entire production, right from getting the team together to overseeing minute details. I came into the picture only when the film was ready and had to be promoted,” he smiles.

The miya-biwi jodi had earlier acted in films like Tujhe Meri Kasam (2003) which marked their Bollywood debut, Masti (2004) and Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya (2012). When will we see them together on screen again? “I would love to do a Marathi film with Genelia but we need a script first. Also, she has to decide if she’s ready to make a comeback to films,” he points out.

On the subject of producing Hindi films, Riteish says that while in Marathi cinema you can go ahead once you zero in on a good subject, in Bollywood one has to take into account other factors like commercial viability and casting. “That’s another kind of mathematics altogether which while I understand, I’m not sure I want to get into it right now. For the moment I’m planning another Marathi film,” he says, refusing to divulge details.

He recently met his Aladin director, Sujoy Ghosh, over coffee and they discussed a probable collaboration. “We have been friends for years and while chatting about films, I asked him to give me a script as I want to produce more films and he agreed,” says Riteish. Meanwhile, is he doing Sajid Nadiadwala’s Housefull 4? “The production house will announce the cast at the right time,” he retorts, keeping it short.

His late father was the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and both his brothers, Amit and Dheeraj, are into politics. Does he plans to shift from being an abhineta to rajneta someday? “I have lived with politics all my life thanks to my father and brothers, but one can’t get into it just like that, one has to work one’s way up from the grassroot level but having said that I have to admit that none of my decisions were ever planned. I studied architecture but then got an offer and found my way into the film industry. I enjoy politics and am keenly watching what’s happening in the country. I don’t know what the future holds for me but never say never to anything in life,” he signs off.

Harshada Rege (DNA; May 30, 2017)

Riteish Deshmukh has always been successful in the comic genre, which is why his entry as the baddie in i impressed everyone. However, he didn’t grab more such roles. Instead, he opted for Banjo, in which he played a struggling musician as liked the role. He then returned to the comic fold with Housefull 3. And now he is ready with another comedy, Bank Chor. But this isn’t all that he has on his plate at the moment. His next Marathi production is ready, while work is on for the ambitious biopic on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s life. Riteish touches on several topics in this tete-a-tete. Excerpts…

A bank-heist comedy is something you haven’t attempted before. What convinced you to take up this film?
There are all these genres you want to do. Until now, I hadn’t done a bank robbery film or a particular action one… I’ve always wanted to do a bank-heist film. Bank Chor has quite an intriguing concept — three guys enter a bank on the worst day possible. Everything that could go wrong, does. Humour comes from the most serious of situations in the film. And it is relatable humour. Horror is one genre I want to attempt. In that genre, I have only done one episode in Darna Zaroori Hai.

Of the Marathi one-liners, how many are your contributions?
When the film was narrated to me, it was about three bank robbers. So, we had a few discussions about what happens, what are the dynamics between these three people, etc. They are three strangers. The character I play has hired them. He is a Maharashtrian and the other two are North Indians. There is this whole debate through the film about Mumbai being better than Delhi or the other way around. There are these various layers that the humour will play at. I really like that banter, while the bank robbery is going on. They start out as strangers and have to come together do this job and end up trusting each other.

Multi-starrers is a space that you have explored many times. You have been part of movies like Dhamaal, Masti, Housefull, etc. Is that your comfort zone?
It’s not a question of comfort. It’s about the script that you like. Every film is bound to have more than one actor. And for those characters, if you start getting good actors, it starts becoming a multi-starrer. Multi-starrers happen because so many good actors are confident about the content. That’s why they start lending their names to it, in the first place. This film could have been with newcomers. Usually, you keep doing films that are exciting, at that point. Some films work, some don’t. So you move on.

After Ek Villain, did you not want to explore grey characters further?
I didn’t think that there was anything exciting that came my way, in that space. Then I did Banjo, which I thought was an interesting role for me. Unfortunately, the film didn’t work at the box-office. Nevertheless, I enjoyed playing that character — a slightly brooding drunk. Last year, I did Housefull 3, which worked. Bank Chor was in a light-hearted space and I wanted to do it.

Will you attempt another negative role in the future?
I would love to. But it needs to be written with as much love as the one in Ek Villain was.

Has your movie on the life of Shivaji Maharaj been postponed?
I believe we have almost locked the script and are going to start the pre-production soon.

Didn’t you grow out your hair for this project?
After Banjo, I had free time and wanted to do a few look tests. The movie will start sometime soon.

What kind of comedies do you like to watch?
I love dark humour. I like slice-of-life or poker-face comedies. I also enjoy the Dumb and Dumber kind of madcap comedies.

When it comes to comedy, which actors are your inspiration?
There’s Sanjeev Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Kader Khan, Govinda and Paresh Rawal. I think Rishi Kapoor has an incredible sense of humour. The thing about Rishiji is, he is not trying to make you laugh. He is very serious about the situation and the fun comes from that. He is not cracking a joke. His character is so serious that it’s funny. He is a fantastic actor. I really love him.

What are the five comedies you can watch any time?
Andaz Apna Apna, Chupke Chupke, Maalamaal Weekly, Dhamaal (the first part) and Dumb & Dumber.

After 14 years in the industry, has the way you select movies changed?
Sure. That’s because the kind of movies that are being made, are different. The choices I’ve made have been different. Things are changing around constantly. Every time a film is successful, everything around starts changing for that film. But yes, you have to be aware and I am enjoying my space as an actor and a producer, so I am very happy.

What about pre-release pressure?
There’s a sense of nervousness every time, an anxiousness... The thought of how the movie is doing, what the people think. It’s part-and-parcel of the business. That’s why I do movies. To know what people think... whether the timing was correct. For example, was this what people wanted to watch at that point of time?

How do you deal with failure now?
There is a certain maturity right now when it comes to dealing with success or failure. I give myself only that Friday to celebrate the success of the film or mourn for the failure. On Saturday, I have to get back to work. That’s why you will never see me harping on any film’s success, I don’t do that. That’s not me. I move on very quickly.

After producing Marathi movies, will you back any Hindi movies soon?
No, I am only producing Marathi content right now. My film Faster Fene is almost ready and the post-production is on. A couple more films will start by August or September.