The Hindu : New Delhi News : Eager to explore new frontiers... .

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Monday, Jan 29, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Eager to explore new frontiers... .

Having carved out a niche for himself both in action and comedy films, Bollywood star Suniel Shetty still gets excited about scripts and wants to take up challenging roles, says Madhur Tankha

He may be facing stiff competition from the younger generation of actors, but Bollywood star Suniel Shetty seems unruffled. In fact, the 40-plus actor does not mind sharing space on the big screen with young actors as long as the film excites the actor in him.

Suniel, who was here in the Capital to inaugurate a group show of ten artists at Lalit Kala Akademi this past week, says he has cut down on work. "One has to live with the times. Last year most films had a multi-star cast. Maybe I am not selling as much as I was earlier. So what's the harm in being selective? Earlier, I could not refuse a role because of emotional reasons," says Suniel, who is best remembered for his roles in " Mohra", "Border", "Yeh Tera Ghar, Yeh Mera Ghar" and the blockbuster "Phir Hera Pheri".

The self-effacing actor who has seen lots of ups and downs in his career says he is not completely satisfied and wants to explore new frontiers and do a variety of roles. "Like a doctor, an artiste also practises his art. Though I have been in the Hindi film industry for 16 long years, I am still learning the craft of acting and still get excited about scripts written by young writers."

Suniel denies the charge that he is signing only multi-star cast films, arguing that just as malls are running more successfully than markets, Bollywood is now producing more than one actor films.

Revealing that his priority right now is his home production, Suniel says: "I am concentrating all my energies on `Raaste' that stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. Both look great and I get along well with them. In fact, I gave Abhishek a chance to act in one of my productions even though he was not doing very well at the box-office. Now, he has proved his detractors wrong. The film will also star John Abraham."

After June, Suniel will be busy shooting the sequel "International Hera Pheri" and also essay the role of a cop in "Shootout at Lokhandwala". "I want to take success as it comes," says the actor.

Despite facing competition from the new breed of young actors, Suniel is not unduly worried. "Even today I am fitter than many of the youngsters. I do my own action scenes and can do them better than anyone else. Of course, youngsters like Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek and Shahid Kapoor are doing great work and I am happy for them".

Coming from a middle class family, Suniel had a very modest upbringing. "I have very simple parents whom I meet every day. My biggest idol is my father, who started out as a restaurant boy at the age of nine. However he worked hard and ended up becoming owner of that restaurant."

Sharing his experience during his initial years in tinsel town, Suniel says he found it really hard to establish himself. "To start with, I was dubbed as a non-actor and non-everything. After doing action films I decided to try comedy-based roles. It was an altogether different kind of experience acting in comedy films, but I have proved my success in them. Though I am still fit to play an action hero, it is buffoonery that I enjoy the most. I have also played a different role in Gulzar's `Hu Tu Tu' and a villain in `Dhadkan'."

Suniel holds Amitabh Bachchan in high esteem. No wonder his favourite film is also of the lanky superstar. "My dream role is of `Sharaabi'."

As for the much talked about rivalry between Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, the actor says both are legends in their own right. "Amitabh put his stamp on `Kaun Banega Crorepati', while Shah Rukh has brought his individuality as well as his youthfulness to the programme."

Describing himself as a "basically lazy person'', Suniel says he now does not hit the gymnasium as regularly as he used to earlier.

"I believe in one mantra; have breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. I think it is all because of my training in martial arts that I have managed to handle the ups and downs in my career."

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