He has been a part of some of the most successful, albeit diverse films coming out of Bollywood in recent times. Taare Zameen Par, Jannat, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, all three films have only one thing in common, actor, Vipin Sharma’s electrifying presence. Here we talk to the classically trained actor, who promises to give us many more such performances.

What got you into acting, in the first place?

As a kid growing up in Delhi I always wanted to be in the movies. I used to hear stories of kids running away from homes and landing up in Bombay but I never thought of doing it as I knew it would hurt my parents badly.  I decided to first join theatre and then do films. That took me to one of the most prestigious acting schools in India-the National School of Drama (“NSD”) in New Delhi. After graduating from there I worked in theatre for a bit and then assisted Ketan Mehta and worked with Naseeruddin Shah very closely on two films. During that time I got fascinated with cinema and wanted to study it. My quest took me to Europe for a while and then I shifted to Toronto where I have been living since over a decade and a half. I think I became sort of disillusioned with acting and Bollywood of late 80’s and wanted to do something different. In Toronto I tried different hats and finally became an editor after having attended another very popular Norman Jewison film school, Canadian Film Centre. But during all that time acting stayed in my mind and I always thought may be one day I will go back to it. And I AM back now.
All this happened because of a chance meeting with one of the most amazing acting teachers I have come across, Jacqueline McClintock from Montreal who teaches Meisner. It changed my life. I studied with her for a bit and decided to pack my bags and head to Bollywood.

On the influence of NSD, in your development as an actor?   

NSD influenced me greatly. I am not sure that it made me an actor but it surely put me on the right path. That is where I came in touch with some of the most important filmmakers and actors of our times like Shyam Benegal, Ketan Mehta, Prakash Jha, Naseerudding Shah, Om Puri, B.V. Karanth, Barry John to name a few. After NSD I didn’t even think of doing anything else but to stay in theatre and cinema. It had a very deep impact on me.

You appear to be the man with the golden touch, whichever project you touch, however different, appears to have a successful run at the box office, from TZP, Jannat, Saheb Biwi. On your experience in working with these three distinct filmmakers?

Yes all three of them are very different films. Taare was a windfall. I had no idea that it was going to happen when I first arrived in India. I remember my first day on the shoot. There were these huge lights and I was standing with Aamir and Amole who was then directing the film. It felt surreal. By the time I did Jannat it was still a bit strange. I had refused it but I am glad I did it. I remember soon after Jannat released I was driving in Bombay and stopped at a cross light. A group of street kids who cell umbrellas, books and many other things on these junctions came running towards me. I first thought they wanted to cell me their merchandise but soon they told me that they had loved my Hamam soap dialog in it. I was quite amazed by how much Bollywood movies have actually become part of the life in India. I mean these kids are not educated and are poor but they see every film. By Saheb I was quite comfortable. This is again a role which I loved playing. I completely felt at ease. This is and of course Yeh Saali ZIndagi as well.

4.Talk a little about your upcoming projects?

I am mostly working with Indie filmmakers in Bollywood now and that is where I am finding my like-mindedness. I don’t hate mainstream cinema but it very rarely offers films that are greatly entertaining and enlightening at the same time. Just aiming to entertain through an art form is shallow and doesn’t contribute much to any society. In a country like India where there are so many issues that need to be looked into there is a great need of cinema which reflects that. I am attempting to be part of this New Age Cinema that is fast emerging here. I am also slowly going back to performing on stage and soon will be directing my first film as well.

On your days in Canada and the creative scene over there?

Toronto is a fantastic city. I miss it. When I first arrived in India I used to go on the net and read the Canadian news papers but I had to stop it because I started to get very emotional and nostalgic. Whatever I am today it is because of Canada, Toronto has taught me a lot. I owe a lot to my city. I wish I could go back quite often and return some of it to the city I love the most in the world. It is my home now and I am away from home. May be soon I will start making films in both the cities Toronto and Bombay.

DON 2, had more bad guys than good guys, after all it was based on bad against bad. In all of those characters, one was new for Don 2….Jabbar,played to perfection by Nawwab Shah. Interestingly, Nawwab has traversed many creative grounds which includes Television, Regional Films and other interesting Hindi cinema roles. Let us find out more about this towering personality.

An Afghan who has made it in Bollywood, how did that come about?

Well it is not completely true. While my parents came from Afghanistan many years ago, I was born and have lived in India all my life. My father’s side is from Afghanistan but even they came here about fifty years ago, so I am Indian in all respects. Therefore, I am not a complete outsider who has made it in Bollywood. I did my schooling in acting with Roshan Taneja, in 1993, in Mumbai. I got my first break shortly thereafter with a Sanjay Khan show, called AKBAR THE GREAT,  for Doordarshan. I was fortunate enough to be signed for the title role, given that I was very green. That to me was the biggest training ground since it covered all facets, action, dialogue delivery, music, the whole learning process for me and I could not have asked for a better launch.

So now that you are the big and amazing screen presence of DON 2, is it goodbye TV?

Not really. Truth be told I would not perhaps like to see myself in daily soaps and I have not done much of TV, but I did take on small episodic stories that came my way. They were not lengthy and were also interesting in the way they were filmed. This lead to the series called SARTHI, which was on Star Plus and I did that for three years. If I look at the major chunk of my work on TV, it is SAARTHI and AKHBAR THE GREAT which took like five years of mine. So it is not about movies or television, I mean I have done about 29 movies in the South in Tamil, Telegu, Kannada and Malayalam, I’ve done an English film, a short tele-film,  so I would not restrict myself to anything, especially since today TV and films are of the same breadth and expanse. So it is more a combination of what strikes my fancy and what sounds interesting at the time, is what I will take on.

In DON 2, I think your look was the most international, so that brings me to the question would you also be open to projects in places like the UK or the US?

Yes of course. Doing projects in Mumbai and this is true for all artists, after a while gets repetitive, be it in the genre of action, or whatever, so I would look to work anywhere outside. An example is a friend of mine from New Zealand, is making a medium budget film, so for me to be a part of a different crew, distinct Geography, language, the whole process was very exciting. So be it British, UK, regional, to the extent that I fit in well with the character, would be fun to do.

Given that you have done so many films in the South, how do you overcome the language barrier?

It varies from film to film. Like I did a Malayalam film with Mohanlal, actually got an award for that film. We obviously know the meaning of every word that we are saying, as it is told to us, so ideally you memorize your lines and speak them, because your pronunciation is not totally correct, they do tend to get local speakers to dub it. But by the same token I had done another Malyalam film where they wanted the character to speak with not the typical accent, almost like an outsider, so that worked very well. I have also done and spoken Tamil, Telegu and Kannada that way. Sometimes an assistant will be prompting, while I am performing and I tend to catch the words, so there are various ways but eventually they do dub it because they need a certain fluency of language.

Your favorite moment of DON 2 and what it was like to work with Farhan and Shah Rukh?

Every moment from the time I signed it. I signed DON 2 in Feb 2011 and the shooting was in October, from that moment on I did not do any other work, since I wanted to devote my time to this. I was under going training for about five to six months before the movie started. Then landed up for a two month shoot in Berlin. I have worked before with Farhan in Lakshya. I’ve known Farhan and Ritesh for the past twenty years, so the comfort level was always there. This was an unique opportunity since the character was a principal character and a very interesting one, also a new one, as he was not part of the original Don and the remake. So in all honesty enjoyed every bit of it.

Finally what is upcoming?

Am doing a film for Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, with whom I have always wanted to work, called Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. I play an athletic coach to the main character, essayed by Farhan. The filming  starts in March. I am leaving in a couple of days for some very serious training to get into the skin of the character. I anticipate approximately a 2-3 month shoot, so am not rushing into things but giving this one all of my time.

SHOR IN THE CITY, ended on Pitobash’s face. But it began a love affair with the audience for this wonderfully talented actor. Pitobash was also part of the award winning I AM KALAM and there too his skill as a trained and seasoned performer, came to the forefront. Here we talk to this Oriya Engineer, about what lies ahead and what got him into Bollywood. Over to Pitobash:

On your journey from Orissa to the Mumbai film industry?

I am an Engineer from Orissa, I always wanted to be an actor from childhood but growing up in Orissa I realized there was a lack of infrastructure to make a profession out of this. So I shifted to Kolkata after my high school to pursue Engineering more because I was good academically so I figured that I might as well get my graduation done.  This also gave me an opportunity to do theater in that city, since Kolkata provides a lot of opportunity to grow culturally. On wrapping up my Engineering I applied to the Film and Television Institute (FTII) in Pune, after that I shifted to Mumbai. I have been in Mumbai for the last four years.

So lets talk about your two breakout performances last year, I AM KALAM and SHOR IN THE CITY?
Raj and DK had made the short film by the same name. I had just passed out of the FTII and they auditioned me and cast me in the short film. Based on that they offered a small cameo in their film 99, an interesting role nevertheless and then SHOR happened. Since I had then known the makers for 3.5 years, the concept and the character was very clear in my mind and that helped immensely in the portrayal. Madhab Panda, the maker of I AM KALAM, is also from Orissa and we have interacted even prior to working on the film, on a social basis, in Mumbai, although did not know each other in Orissa. I got a call from him when he was in Delhi, informing me that he is doing a very small film with no budget, but it is for a good cause and is for a NGO. The NGO, The Smile Foundation, had done a lot of documentaries on the issue of children education/ child labor, but this time they had wanted to make a feature to try and get a bigger reach for their message. So the subject had an underlying message, albeit wrapped in an entertaining film. On reading the script I agreed to come on board. I did realize that it is not every time I will do a no budget film, but for an actor to be a part of something useful to society that opportunity also comes quite rarely, especially when it is linked to doing your work and showing up to work. I did not charge a single rupee for the film, while it was being filmed in Bikaner and I do know that a lot of other people also have worked for free on this film. Iam glad that the film has got the recognition it deserved. It will be a memorable film for my life.

Future and upcoming projects?
There is Alaap by debutante director, Manish Manikpuri. It is a musical based in Chhattisgarh, about four engineering students who did not want to be engineers in the first place and how they are making music as a rock band and attempting to win over the naxals via their music.
Then there is Joker by Shirish Kuder with Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi, Shreya and Minisha Lamba.
Am also doing Dibanker Bannerjee’s next film, Shanghai,  with Emraan, Kalki and Abhay. I want to take it slow, post SHOR I declined approximately ten films as they were offering the same Mumbai tapori role. I need to be push myself as an actor to do different roles.  I guess that is the challenge for most actors, to not get stereotyped, yet what is expected is a recreation of an earlier successful role.

Likelihood of seeing you on television or stage?
Theater, I continue to do along with film acting. Right now I am not looking actively towards television, but you never know what the future holds since I always follow my heart.

Using your grey cells, since you are an Engineer, of playing other parts in the creative industry?
Writing is something I did even before getting the acting breaks and I continue to do so. I have lots of concepts that I keep penning. At this point I don’t have plans to direct or write since I am not in a hurry to do anything in life without proper training and work going into it. Just as in acting where I paid my dues via theater and FTII, so I gave time to that faculty. Likewise I want to give my dues to other aspects, before I say I am ready to indulge in it. Polish my craft and upgrade my skills. So when the confidence comes that I can make a good film, as opposed to making something for the sake of making, I will be inclined to do so.

Not all former Miss India’s and former ramp models have had the acting chops. Some have appeared in film after film, but their acting has never been accepted as their strengths. Looks yes, acting, perhaps not. Then we have Nikita Anand, who has consistently won over the critics and the audience with her performances. She belongs to that genre of artists whose sheer dramatic talent lingers on, irrespective of the fate of the film. Paying her dues and working her way from being a model, to a very popular television host and finally to where she stands now, a thinking persons film actor. Here is another non filmi and belonging to the Army background, artist, who is proof that performance is all the “noise” one ever needs to make. Over to Nikita:

A little about your journey from modelling/fashion to television and films?

Post winning the Miss India title, I was doing a lot of ramp shows and designer shoots. And during this, I was approached by Zee Sports to be the face for NASCAR in India. Thus began my association with NASCAR in India for 2 years. Having debuted on TV with a sports show, I was then approached by other TV channels for sports based shows. I have covered lots of cricket tournaments (Tri Series, World Cup) and events for Zee Sports, Star etc. Very recently I was also approached by Times Now for their special Diwali celebration of Total Recall.

While all this was happening, I was selected by Manish Tiwari to debut in his film called ” Dil, Dosti Etc ” produced by Prakash Jha. Followed by Ek Second. And thus my film career began. So it has been a natural progression for me from modelling, television anchoring to films.

Now that you have a flavor of all the worlds, if you had to rank the three, Modelling/Television/Films, which one would that be?

I’d definitely rank the 3 in the following order: films, anchoring and then modeling.

I see films as a huge performance oriented medium – there are so many different characters one can enact, so many aspects to a performance namely, acting, dancing, improvising. Anchoring comes a close second. I’ve grown up learning speech, diction and elocution from The Trinity School of Speech and Drama London so anchoring is also something I love. The only drawback for me with modeling is that I don’t find it engaging enough, I’ve always wanted to do more when I was modeling.

On being a non filmi in films, talk about the advantages, as in wider perspective, and the disadvantages, clearly the barriers on account of nepotism, etc?

The advantage of being from a non filmi background is probably the fact that since one is not born with a famous last name, one doesn’t have the huge expectation that is associated with being a star’s kid. On the other hand, a non filmi debutant certainly does not get as many chances or opportunities to prove themselves in the film industry as compared to a star kid.

On your upcoming projects in television and films?

I have one film called 4 2 ka 1 which is opposite Jimmy Shergill. It is soon to be released. In talks for another film.

Talk a little on your life outside of films, what inspires and motivates you?

Besides films and television, I have been associated with The Dhyan Foundation since the past few years. I practice yoga under the guiding light of Yogi Ashwiniji. This is what keeps me fit, strong, happy and content.

Besides that, I am an avid reader, I love reading fiction novels. I always have a book on me, specially when I’m traveling.
And I love music, its a great stress buster.

Two of the finest performances in DELHI BELLY, were by  Poorna Jagannathan and Vir Das. In a film dominated by males and some fine performances, Poorna, left a lasting impression. Matching  spunkiness for spunkiness, was this fine American Indian actor, who has earlier been seen in shows such as Law and Order and Rescue Me, along with a whole lot others, on mainstream American TV and Film.

What got you into the acting profession to start with?

I get asked that a lot, especially since I’m not from a film family and grew up without a TV. I think I instinctively knew acting would be the most powerful way I could express myself. I also met an actress called Suhasini Maniratnam when I was about 6 and I fell in love with her – I wanted to be exactly like her when I grew up!

A comparison on working in NY vs working in the Mumbai film industry?

Drastically different! There’s an appalling lack of meaty female roles, there’s very little co-relation to a film’s success and how good it actually is and there’s a lot more emphasis on looks here in Bollywood. I think NYC is so entrenched in its theater culture that it embraces different types a little more.

Excellent performance in Delhi Belly, how did that project come your way?

I was in India for a wedding that week that they were casting. I bumped into someone connected with Delhi Belly and they set up an audition for me. I went in, the material felt like it was written for me but then it took at least 6 more months to finalize me in the role. Longest wait of my life!

Talk a little about your upcoming work both in TV and films, both in the West and East?

I just finished a movie called “Thanks for Sharing” directed by Oscar nominee Stuart Blumberg (The Kids Are All Right). It stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo and Tim Robbins. I’m also developing some theater here in Mumbai.

On being a South Asian American actor in mainstream US entertainment?

It sucks, it’s hard but despite the stereotyping you get to do some good work. And South Asians are becoming more and more central to scripts.  A casting director even told me that Brown was the new Black. That statement is wrong on so many levels, but South Asian characters are definitely included in the ensemble.

Oorvazi Irani: An acting trainer, film educationalist, filmmaker with the belief that being an artist is at the essence of all the roles she plays because central to all three is discovering, creating and reaching out.

She has been  actively involved in research, direction, production with her home production company SBI Impresario Pvt. Ltd. which has produced international critically acclaimed documentaries from the past three decades.

Share with us your latest project ?

It is with great joy that I share with you the recent release of my DVD – ‘The Michael Chekhov Acting Technique DVD’. This involves me as a filmmaker, as I researched, directed, co-produced and presented it. But above all it’s a continuation of my work as an acting trainer to reach a wider audience to teach this technique and create awareness about the process of an actor. Bringing respectability back to acting is my mission.

In my humble efforts, this DVD is one of its kind and in fact pioneers this new Acting Technique to India.

What are the differences between the celebrated Stanislavsky’s technique and the    Chekhov acting technique? In what ways do both help an actor develop his / her skills?

Stanislavsky is a landmark figure and has been responsible for a new phase of realism in modern acting starting in the 20th century and all great actors and teachers owe a lot to him for his important contribution and fundamental concepts. Infact Chekhov was Stanislavsky’s student at the Moscow Art Theatre but as Chekhov says he had a problem with this technique that used the actor’s personal life to act. He personally found difficulty using his personal life to act and soon questioned this painful process and started searching for an alternative. He believed that the actor’s  identity should be distinct from the character’s identity and the emotions of the character should not be confused with the actor’s emotions.

The Stanislavsky ‘system’ emphasized using personal memories and the actor’s own life experiences to act. It also involved in-depth discussions and work on understanding the script and a lot of analysis. On the other hand Chekhov preferred freeing the actor from  his limited personal identity and making him explore his deeper higher self which is an infinite resource from which to create.

Who are the actors (national and international) that you like to reference while teaching and why?

I do not really refer to specific actors as part of my teaching structure, but yes I would like to mention some internationally renowned actors and directors who practice and have benefited from the Michael Chekhov Technique, many have been students of Chekhov himself – Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Depp, Marilyn Monroe, Gregory Peck, Ingrid Bergman etc.

What is the approach and aims of the DVD and the workshop that you conduct?

The aim and approach of the DVD and workshop is to create an awareness of the process of an actor which I feel is very challenging and hopefully to be able to offer a new tool to aspiring and experienced actors. The process of acting I feel has the potential to empower or destroy you as an individual and unless the approach and means are right the profession is high risk.

The DVD is a step by step Guide to understanding the Basic Tools and Fundamental Concepts of the technique with an interactive approach. Then the workshop is an experience of it with my personal guidance and support.

With this DVD now in the market and having the endorsement of the President of the Michael Chekhov Association New York, I also want to reach out as a personal trainer for individual actors, workshops for film directors and actors for a specific film, besides of course special workshops for educational and media institutions.

What do you think of the awareness of the acting skill and discipline in visual arts    today? Do we have a healthy culture of performance-oriented work happening?

I feel specially in the mainstream cinema acting is no more an art form but just a profession. I would like to speak primarily about the Director. When it comes to film, directors rarely are concerned about the process of an actor and their training does not concern the actor –director relationship. But the truth is that, the actor is the soul of the film. He is the only human element in the frame and that needs to be given due respect. I feel if the director shares a technique with the actor and understands the challenges and possibilities of the creative process of an actor we can create more exciting films and have memorable characters that live beyond the release of the film.

And with the Chekhov technique I am trying to involve and create an awareness with directors too. But it’s a challenging task to enter the industry and speak a new language and get heard. Most of the actors in the Indian mainstream cinema industry unfortunately do not really follow any specific acting technique at all and many times the preparation for a role is not as committed and rigorous as international actors.

What’s next on the professional front?

My journey as a film educationalist and acting trainer continues on its path – hopefully reaching deeper levels of awareness and reaching out to more people. And with this as a constant, between my classes I start work on my next film project – the documentary on the Parsi community.  But all the roles I play give and take from each other and that’s what I love.

Details about the DVD
The Michael Chekhov Acting Technique DVD – Presented by Oorvazi Irani
MRP: Rs 499 Available at: Granth Book store Juhu ,Rhythm House, Flipkart.com
Project Website :  www.oorvazichekhovindia.com

Musician turned filmmaker or rather musician returning to his filmmaking roots, James Jewell is a unique combination of being very driven and yet, very gregarious and fun loving. His personality is evident in his music. James has turned his attention, recently to the web, and developed the web series, ALABAMA CHROME, a series of episodes that can be viewed on the web. But this is not some home video effort, it has the backing of SAG, an Oscar nominee and Bollywood. We catch up with James in a telephonic call from Paris:

What is Alabama Chrome all about?

Alabama Chrome, the idea is about a creative individual trying to be successful and the ins and out that go with it. It is a poetic, abstract expression. A simple process in the world stage. It could be a comedy of errors, creative expression and the experience of individuals. It is a web series, but despite being a series, each episode stands on its own. There is also a music album by the same name that makes its way into the film

What got a musician into filmmaking?

Actually I have always been into filming. As a kid I used to make movies on the Super 8, just like a lot of kids in my generation. Made some music videos, since music is also a key facet to my personality. My major in college was films. Post graduation I was making music videos, filming marriages, all the fun stuff that we do to pay our bills. Being married to my wonderful wife gave me the opportunity to travel the world. Music then took precedence for me and we put together a band, when I moved to LA. But LA being what it is, I got an opportunity to make a short film. As we were discussing the idea of the short film, my wife and I and our entertainment lawyer, Pat, put our heads together and more ideas started to flow. It then occurred to us that rather than make a short film, the time was ripe for a web series.

Why web series?

Many reasons. The web is available to all. My wife and I are both very web savy so that gave us the opportunity to explore around. Also from a funding perspective it was easier, plus that is the way the world is going, seeing more stuff on the net. When we started out we figured we would make one episode or a couple, then it started to take a life of its own, people got involved and everyone had their own ideas and contributions and before we knew it, the series was formed.

But it is more than just passion here right?

Absolutely. We are very proud of the professionalism that has gone into it. It is going to be a SAG film, with high production values, HD, Cannon 5D, perfect audio quality. We also intend to come out with a DVD of season 1. It has an Oscar nominated cast, Alison Elliot. Songs, music, all of it.

And the Bollywood factor..?

Yes in two ways. A significant cast member and my friend, Mark Bennington, plays a FBI agent. During filming in LA, Mark informed me that he was leaving to go to Mumbai,to complete his book on Bollywood. This meant that production would have had to come to a standstill. We thought of working around the situation by having Mark film a few episodes from Mumbai.Those have only added to the color of the series. One of Mark’s friends, a Bollywood film and tv actress, Barkha Madan, was also roped in. She too plays an undercover agent. Because she is undercover, Barkha also provided the song and glam factor, she has done an amazing Bellydance number in one of the episodes and added her international and Bollywood flavor into the filming. This has made it so much more exciting.

When is the release planned for and how do we find out more?

The first episode should be available later this month. Our website is http://www.watchalabamachrome.com/

The best person in their craft does not need time to establish their identity and prowess. One moment is good enough. A single appearance by Om Puri convinces the audience of the class of this actor. And it is not about the banner, the build up, the dialogues, and all the external factors, it is about the most basic factor, the skill in the actor. He will get your attention doing a street play in a crowded junction and he is not an attention seeker, he is merely going about “his training.”

He has trained to be an actor, he has perfected his training to become the best of the best. Here is catching up with the legend:

What inspired you to act in KHAP?
The subject matter. Honor killings are a big issue. Recently the Supreme Court has instituted capital punishment, for those indulging in Honor killings and even instituting it. But the issue of the Khap panchayat and honor killings continue and really have no place in the 21st century. So anytime an important subject such as this is presented to me, it does excite me, as a performer. There was also this filmmaker, Ajai Sinha, who had sold one of his apartments, an office and put his personal money on the line because he wanted to make this film. The script and the topic, even more than the length of my role inspire me most. In fact if it is a script narration on a current topic, generally by the first para of a narration, I am pretty sure I figure out the topic and ask the filmmaker to save the narration since I am on board because of the topic.

What makes you one of India’s finest actor?
Like any other skill, a lot of training has gone into it. I come from a small town in Punjab and I have been trained at the National School of Drama, one of the finest institutions of acting. Then also put in time in the FTII, when they used to have an acting program. Naseer was my batchmate in both instances. There was also the struggle. I got my first big break in Aakrosh, at the age of 31. But it was my training that helped me in that film, to get noticed. Filmmakers such as Ray and Sen immediately noticed me and from there it took off. The first house that I built from the savings, was for my brother. I was only able to buy my first apartment in Mumbai in 1984. So the drive to be good at my craft was not immediately driven by money, but more a desire to become good at what I do. In fact for some of my finest performances in movies like Ardh Satya, Sparsh, Aakrosh, etc I have been paid sums like Rs 500, Rs 25000, etc, because the budget for these films were minimal. Also the hard work. In one of the films, Aakrosh, I had to play a tribal and since I am naturally fair skinned, to get into the character I stood in the sun for 15 days, to get a natural tan.

How do you balance between doing commercial Bollywood and smaller, arthouse films?
As long as I can, I will always do some films each year, where I believe in them. Money will not be the consideration. Then to balance out life, I have enough Bollywood folks offering me good roles, so I will continue doing those too. In fact even in Bollywood films, the work or roles that I get to enact are very satisfying as an actor, in me and it is not about the length.

You have acted in Indian, US and British cinema. Share your experience with our readers.
And I have enjoyed all. Again it is not the length of the role. In Wolfe I had just one scene, but it was with Jack Nicholson and I did all the talking. When we were promoting City of Joy in Australia, the late Patrick Swayze remarked to the audience that “If Om Puri does not get an Academy nomination for this role, I am going to kill someone.” That was so gratifying. The British Government has awarded me the OBE, when I am not even a British citizen or resident and have a mere 5 year history of work to show for that. To do a Charlie Wilson’s War and play the part of Zia Ul Haq, what more can an actor ask for. In fact I was joking with the director that the next time around he should make a full biopic on Zia and cast me.

Staying with British Cinema, how did a Mumbai based Punjabi, play the North British Asian, as Jimmy Mistry’s dad, to such perfection in East is East?
There is a very distinct difference between how English is spoken in London and in North England. So when we were to film in the North, they had an accent coach for all the British actors but none for me, since the director felt that my character should have limited knowledge of English. The human in me reasoned, “Om Puri you are a Pakistani immigrant who has built a life and business in the UK driving a cab, as in my character in the film, so obviously you should be able to speak some tuti phuti English and who did you learn that from….Ah from my British wife in the film.” So I spent the next day asking the actress who would play my wife to speak to me as she would to her husband. We Indians are very practical people. I took down what and how she spoke to me and give it a “Pakistani North British” tone and that formed my accent and words as George Khan in East is East.

Is there a director in Om Puri?
Directing actors is not a problem. Directing a camera I don’t know fully. I am learning, but not quite there as yet. Some days I am attracted to that but then there is enough work coming as an actor and as long as the body can hold up I will stick to acting, but yes, directing does fascinate me. I am 62 now and I will continue to learn more about camera angles!

Astitva, Ghar Ek Sapna, Hasratein and the list goes on. Not only were these very popular serials the world over, they also attracted a very interactive and involved audience, cause they touched on topics which in turn form a part of our real lives. It is not a surprise that the “grey cells” behind these serials, is an Engineer turned filmmaker. Here we get to know more about that filmmaker, Ajai Sinha:

What got you into movies and television?
I am actually a Civil Engineer by profession. Have always had a creative frame of mind. After finishing my Engineering I dabbled in theater as an actor, in Delhi and Mumbai. Then the desire to create, as opposed to act, took over. So I moved to Mumbai, got an opportunity to direct in television….

And you have made some very fine and popular serials like, Hasratein, Astitva (Zee also has awards named after this show), Ghar Ek Sapna…..all different, all very earthy, original….?
When it comes to TV I wear the viewers cap and think, why should I watch this serial, what is the differentiating factor? A response to that, is what goes into my serial development. A uniqueness by which the audience can say, “yes that is an Ajai Sinha serial.” That goes right from the story to the character development.

Your take on the current state of TV programming?
Studio executives have reached out, asking the question – how do we improve our programming? I think this is cyclical. I anticipate that as a result of the thought process and questioning going on, the quality will improve.
On your films?
My first completed film, with Sharman Joshi and Riya Sen, was lying ready for release for a while. It is called MR BACHELOR. Ironically it will be my third released film. My first released film was STOP and then recently there was the critically acclaimed, KHAP.

What is KHAP about?
It is about the arbitrary decision making and government of a panchayat for a group of regions. This collective panchayat, of KHAP, at times prevents marriages in the same region or gotra and other times it is for it. There is a fair amount of arbitrary randomness for their decision making and implementation. Recently there was the Manoj and Babli case, which you can google, which was a case of honor killing instituted by the Khap. This film was produced by me since it was a topic I am passionate about.

KHAP got you an award at the Norway-Oslo festival, but did not do that well in India?
One of the main reasons are the costs of going to the movies nowadays. For a family to visit the theater, at Rs 400 per head, is a lot of money, compared to when it was a lot cheaper, a few years back. This prevents people from seeing movies such as KHAP. The film is releasing later this month in Toronto and Vancouver, in Canada and then later perhaps in the US.

What are the other upcoming projects in film and television?
Have some scripts in development in films, but because of the financial hit taken in KHAP, will have to put that on hold for some time. In television have submitted some pilots and a couple of them should be good for development shortly.

Ram Gopal Verma’s much awaited film ‘Shabri’, is all set to see the light of the day.
One person who has all his dreams, aspirations and hope pinned on the this film is Raj Arjun.
And rightly so. It is not everyday that an actor gets noticed in one shot and goes on to play the protagonist for the next of Ram Gopal Verma.

Unleashing raw energy and powerful intensity on the silver screen, Raj, shares with us his life changing experience of ‘Shabri”

journey as an actor…
Iam from Bhopal. I did theatre there for 10 years.I have worked with many known theatre groups. I regard Habeeb Tanveer as my guru. Even now i do plays with Feroz Khan and Makrand Deshpande.

on getting ‘Shabri’….
A few years back, Praval Raman Pande called me for a very small role in Ram Gopal Verma’s film ‘Company’. It was not even a role it was just a shot, i was in Bhopal but i came and did it wholeheartedly because i always wanted to work with Ram Gopal Verma.
And that small shot was a beginning of my association and belief in RGV.
Later, say after 2-3 years, he remembered me because of that small shot and asked Praval to call that shooter ..RGV didn’t know even my name till then.
I met RGV and I still remember the first thing he said “This character,Murad, has an intensity of Bhiku Matre (Manoj Bajpayee in SATYA) and anger of Chander (Vivek Oberoi in COMPANY)”
Murad is a Matka don. Now you go think about it. And once you are ready with the character and all. Let me know.
I took 17 days to chalk out Murad. It was extremely difficult for me to work on a thin line.
When i met RGV again, he observed me, my clothes, my slippers, hair etc. He didn’t say a word and went inside his room. I was confused and perplexed.
Then one young man came to me and introduced himself as Lalit Marathe, writer, director of Shabri. Lalit was excited and said that he has got his Murad..

 on co-star Isha Kopikar…
Isha is a good co-star. She is very professional and hard working.
She has to be in the skin of the character and she was. I did not see Isha as the  heroine of a film.She was Shabri from the day one.
She has no ‘starry air’ about her. She is very down to earth.We would discuss  scenes together. I was very comfortable with her.

 on director, writer, Lalit Marathe…
Lalit is a fantastic director to work with. I would love to work again and again

with him.
He is a dream director to work with. He gave me total freedom to perform at the same time was holding me and guiding me along.
I had met with an accident, i went to Lalit and said ‘How will i perform with a broken leg? He said, ‘Come what may, you are my Murad. I will change the script

and show Murad as a limping man’. What more can a newcomer ask for from a known director.

The one thing, filmmaker Deepa Mehta does have, is an acute eye for talent. That eye spotted a theater actor, Vansh Bhardwaj, in Delhi and a decision was made! Vansh made his debut in Deepa’s film Videsh. His fine acting was applauded in the film and Vansh had arrived. He continues to perform in the same vein, in films and theater. His movie Sahi Dhande Galat Bande opened to wide critical acclaim and once more the performance of this talented actor, was noticed. Here we catch up with him:

1)  Talk about your journey to Mumbai to become an actor?

always wanted to be an actor. In India, there are just two ways of getting fame, cricket and Bollywood. Initially I wanted to be a cricketer. I played a lot. I started theater as a hobby at a young age of 11. Gradually cricket took a backseat. I did a lot of amateur theater; participated in the zonal youth festival etc. But never won any. It was then that I decided that this is where I want to make it big.I did my Masters in dramatics. Deepa Mehta, saw me on stage performing ‘Nagamandala’ in Delhi in the year 2005. She told me then that she would work with me for sure. In 2007, I shifted base to Mumbai from Chandigarh. I had to come back due to some problems. It was then that she offered me ‘Videsh- Heaven on Earth,’ without any audition, I gave a screen test, and I was in. I shot for the movie and finally came to Mumbai in 2009.

2)  Given you spent so much time in theater, is it goodbye to that medium, now that films have become a part of your life?

Oh no, not at all. That’s definitely not the case. Its been three good years in the film industry, I have done three films, and I am still in contact with Neelam ma’am (Neelam Mansingh Chaudhary), and even now we perform, and we shall keep performing. I personally enjoy acting on stage.

3)  On your role in Parvin Dabbas’s directorial debut?

My character’s name is ‘Sexy’ in Parvin’s movie. He is stylish, young, energetic, flamboyant, has an uber cool sense of dressing and an attitude to carry it off with elan. He is the youngest in the gang, dreams of owning a bachelor pad, and likes chubby girls. He is fun!

4)  On your experience working with Deepa Mehta?

It was a dream come true for me! To get one’s first film with an Oscar nominated director, one can’t get a better debut! To my surprise, she was very easy to work with. She gave me complete freedom on the sets. She wants an actor to bring out something of their own in the character to make it believable. And an outstanding feature in her is that she works in depth and in layers, this challenges your capacity!

5)  Your upcoming projects, in films, theater.

Theater- I shall be going to New York in October for a demonstration cum conference with our play- ‘ A Wife’s Letter’ , written by Rabindranath Tagore and directed by Neelam Mansingh Chaudhary. I shall be performing the same play in Hyderabad in November.

Films – awaiting the release of ‘Cooking with Stella’, directed by Dilip Mehta. I have signed two more films, but can’t share their details as of now.

For reasons best known to itself, old school Bollywood has this divide between TV and film actors, not realizing that an actor is an actor. This divide really has no practical basis, other than an opinionated few. So every year we have a greater number of Television actors, seamlessly shining on the big screen and making people notice their talent. SHAITAN threw up one such actor, SHIV PANDIT. Taking on a ferocious role, which many  would have run miles from, Shiv not only enacted it very well, but also made a bold statement, “a solid actor can pull off any role and doesn’t need to become a victim of his own image.” Here we talk to this bundle of talent:

A little about your journey to becoming an actor?
I’ve been acting since I was 10 yrs old. My mother used to enroll me in summer theatre workshops with an outfit by the name of ‘Teamwork’. I continued my interest in theatre through school and eventually in college..where I started acting professionally on the Delhi stage.
Simultaneously, I started working as a Radio Jockey while, I was still in college and it helped me greatly in terms of voice modulation (where theatre helped me with confidence and spontaneity). Radio led me to a job in Mumbai,post graduation with another Radio company. I worked there for 2 yrs, eventually led me to doing TV commercials.

You gave a super performance in Shaitan and many so called heroes would almost be afraid to take that role since it had shades, what convinced you to do that?

My Director’s conviction in me. I had originally been cast for the role of K.C. in the film. After a few weeks  Bejoy got in touch with me and said ‘I think I can find another K.C. but I don’t think I’ll be able to find Dash’. At the time it seemed like a wrong decision to take on Dash. I was purely being a selfish actor… meaning – I had been cast for a role which seemed as the front runner of the pack, most of the dialogues were his, why would I take on a part who is initially in the background and hardly speaks in comparison? Since I am of the firm belief that I like to challenge myself, this seemed a pretty good time as any and I’m glad it paid off.

You have broken another myth, that TV actors don’t transition well  to films, clearly you have transitioned, so what is your take on this differentiation which people put on TV and film acting?

I wish this divide did not exist between the two mediums..but sadly it does. Internationally, one sees actors from TV graduating to Film all the time. But here in India, I think owing to the kind of content we create and the level of exposure, being on TV brings, filmmakers shy away from working with actors associated with TV. Personally, I respect both mediums and understand the level of hard work associated with each.
At the end of the day,its all about knowing what you want to do. I always wanted to be a film actor!

What are your upcoming film projects?

I have been approached by a few companies regarding their projects. I am currently in the process of meeting them and finalizing things. I am debuting this year for the second time (first being ‘Shaitan’ in Hindi) in a Tamil film called ‘Leelai’. Its a romantic comedy and will be my first step in the Tamil Film Industry. The film got delayed for release it was supposed to release last year and would have been my first film. But its releasing this year.

Your view on the new age films coming out of Bollywood ,the smaller independent one’s like Shaitan?

I feel blessed that I got an amazing opportunity like ‘Shaitan’. And one of the reasons that was possible was because of  ‘Anurag Kashyap’. His belief in the kind of cinema he churns out and his support to newer film-makers such as Bejoy Nambiar, is the reason why I am here today. In fact, If a man like Anurag wouldn’t have been around, I don’t know how many people would actually give a ‘break’ to new directors with eclectic scripts and actors , who don’t have links within the industry.

I feel cinema has the power to educate people and the more intelligent and thought provoking content we put out, the more educated our Indian audience will become. Over the past few years we have seen these ‘new age’ films making their way to the cinema screens and I think its fantastic that the audiences in India now have more varied palette if you will. Also these new age films give the opportunity to people with non-film backgrounds to break into the industry.