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Enjoying his stint on the small screen

Photo: Anu Pushkarna

Experimentation is the Key: Actor Kiran Kumar in New Delhi.

The character has become more important than the artiste, actor Kiran Kumar tells Madhur Tanka

Known as a sadistic baddie in Bollywood films, Kiran Kumar is now revelling in playing the role of an honourable man on the small screen.

The debonair actor, who was here in the Capital this past week to promote his serial “Grahasti” on Star Plus, spared some time to give his take on tinsel town as well as his main preoccupation now -- television. “Twenty-one years ago , I started doing television shows when they were not much in demand. Even then I could foresee that the reach of soaps would increase manifold in the future. In films your career fluctuates. Two good films and you are back in the reckoning. But in television you have to maintain the momentum for a long time. I started my television career with ‘Zindagi’ on DD and have so far done 5,500 episodes.”

Kiran does not find much difference between the two media. “Though TV serial ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ has been criticised, I find it path-breaking. It has attracted many viewers. So hats off to Balaji Telefilms and Ekta Kapoor. These days channels are trying out different concepts that would click with the viewers.”

Pointing out that Bollywood had started producing quality films, the tall actor says films such as “Taare Zameen Par”, “Jodha Akbar” and “Bheja Fry” are part of realistic cinema. “Now characters are written for a 50-plus actor and not necessarily a teenager. So the character has become more important than the profile of the artiste. A 60-plus Amitabh Bachchan is doing powerful roles like ‘Sarkar’ and ‘Cheeni Kum’.”

Stating that N. Chandra’s hit film “Tezaab” released way back in 1988 was closest to his heart, Kiran says it not only made him a household name, but also heralded the arrival of Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dikshit as the premier pairing in tinsel town. “My character of Lotiya Pathan was lapped up by the audience. The film bolstered my career in Bollywood. I immensely enjoyed working with Mukul Anand’s ‘Khuda Gawah’ and Randhir Kapoor’s ‘Henna’.”

Kiran says as a child he was inspired by his father Jeevan who excelled in villainous roles. “But I never tried to imitate my dad’s style of acting. Dilip Kumar and Dharmendra were also my favourites and I never missed a single film of Dara Singh. Among the current crop of actors, I admire Shah Rukh Khan for the way he has evolved, Salman for his unique style and I find Akshay Kumar’s growth simply mind-boggling.”

Though Kiran is an alumnus of Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India, he says no film school can make a person an actor. “You can learn the basics, but acting is something that is within you. As an actor I am always keen to portray diverse roles. The hunger for exploring new boundaries is insatiable.” Nominated for the Filmfare award for best performance in negative role for “Khuda Gawah”, Kiran says it was one of his favourite films. “Though I didn’t bag the award, I didn’t feel disheartened about it.”

With over 30 years in the industry behind him, Kiran is a breed apart from his contemporaries. He is content with what he has and is still trying to do various genres of films and serials.

An autobiography may still be a remote possibility, but Kiran says if ever he writes it he would be honest about it. “I always say things honestly, but not to the point of being blunt. If my truth hurts somebody then I would prefer telling a lie.” Kiran is satisfied with his just completed international project. “My English film ‘Love Has No Language’ was filmed in New Zealand. Among Indian actors it included me, Celina Jaitley and Rati Agnihotri. I am also doing Bhojpuri films and other serials.” Tracing his lineage to the Kashmiri royal family, Kiran says: “My grandfather was the governor of Gilgit that is now in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Though I haven’t been to Gilgit, I have stayed in Srinagar and Anantnag.”

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