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Everyman's star

Arshad Warsi speaks to MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER about life between Munnabhai and the sequel

PHOTO: V. SREENIVASA MURTHY

BRIGHT AND SHINING Arshad Warsi: `The story of Lage Raho Munnabhai is completely different but all the characters from Boman (Irani) to the watchman are there in the sequel as well'

Arshad Warsi insists he is "in a good place now. When an actor is remembered for the character like say, Gabbar Singh or Bhiku Mahtre, then you are in a good place." Arshad is in that place thanks to his turn as Circuit, Sanjay Dutt's tapori sidekick in Rajkumar Hirani's Munnabhai MBBS (2003). Arshad admits to the limiting nature of career-defining roles. "But that is where the hard work starts, na? After Circuit I have never repeated the tapori act."

And when you remind him gently of his role in the television series Karishma, he looks genuinely incredulous. "You really watched that? Hey, come on! Films and television are two different media. I signed that on when I had no work and I needed the money! That was a big mistake."

So did he know he was signing on to a cultural phenomenon when he got on board the Munnabhai? "Not really. When I signed the film, I knew it had potential but the way my role turned out was a complete surprise. We need films to do well. We work very hard and when a film is appreciated, there is the satisfaction of a job well done being recognised."

And now there is news of the sequel opening on September 1. Arshad smiles as he talks of Lage Raho Munnabhai: "The story is completely different but all the characters from Boman (Irani) to the watchman are there in the sequel as well."

He is very much the everyman star, remaining refreshingly grounded even as a bevy of breathless beauties shove books and sweaty bits of paper under his nose for autographs. In town to promote the comic thriller Anthony Kaun Hai, Arshad explains: "This is the second time around... After my first film Tere Mere Sapne (1996) there was a lull and then came Munnabhai... "

Between Munnabhai and its sequel, we have got to see Arshad in some different roles like Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye, as a cop in Sahar, a hacker in Chocolate and the architect Ron who has his life all figured out in Salaam Namaste.

And now just before Munnabhai and Circuit provide some hysterical laughs comes Anthony Kaun Hai with the same duo of Arshad and the deadly Dutt. "I was shooting in Goa when I got the script and I loved it. I knew Sanju would be perfect for the role but I did not want to take advantage of my friendship. But finally Sanju was on board and yes, the fear of falling short of Munnabhai was there but I am sure people will get what they want."

While Arshad and Sanjay Dutt play buddies in Munnabhai, in Anthony they play adversaries. Arshad plays a forgery artist, Champ, who commits a murder and Sanjay Dutt a contract killer out to kill him. Then there is Kabul Express where Arshad plays a journalist interviewing a Taliban leader. The film was shot in Afghanistan and gave him the shivers.

Married to actor/veejay Maria Goretti, the couple has a son, Zeke Zidaan. "It is pronounced `zeek,'" the proud papa explains. "It means `shooting star' in Aramaic and `memory of God' in Arabic." Zidaan incidentally means pinnacle and not a case of soccer mania! So between father and son they have conquered the alphabet!

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