New challenges, new possibilities....

Always prepared to break new ground Bollywood `villain' Ashish Vidyarthi is excited at the imminent release of his films in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. In Delhi this weekend, the actor talks to K. KANNAN about his future projects....

As an actor, he exudes attitude. Lots of it. Believing as he does that nothing is impossible if there is a strong desire, Bollywood baddie Ashish Vidyarthi -- a self-confessed people's guy -- is challenging himself into doing bigger and better roles by branching out into Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films.

``I have recently done a Tamil film with Vikram called `Dil' which has just been released besides signing another film, `Ashoka' with Arjun,'' says Ashish. Also in the pipeline are two films in Telugu and one in Kannada, besides of course a host of Hindi films.

Here in the Capital on Friday evening to preside over the certificate distribution ceremony of the first batch of students graduating from the Kashish School of Arts and Acting, Ashish spoke at length about films, his desire to excel and his attempt to come out of the self-imposed box. ``I am doing four films with David Dhawan, one each with Sunil Darshan and Mohan Ram and one for Tips,'' he says. While ``Jodi No. 1'' and ``Ek Rishta'' have already been released, the other films lined up for him include `Shararat'' and ``Kyunki Mein Jhoot Nahin Bolta''. ``I will be having eight more releases this year,'' he informs.

A product of Delhi's National School of Drama, Ashish believes an actor is very much bound by the roles that are offered to him. Technically, his first film was Ketan Mehta's ``Sardar Patel''. Now that he has worked in more than 100 movies including ``Ziddi'', ``Mrityudata'', ``Kaho Na Pyar Hai'', ``Jeet'', ``Soldier'', ``Badal'' and ``Bichhoo'', Ashish feels that the evolution of an actor was an ongoing process. ``It is a journey without any destination''.

While he minces no bones at the fact that he has been cast more in negative roles than positive ones, he says ``an actor is like a camera which can allow anything and everything in its frame''. Among his memorable performances, he would like to settle for ``Drohkaal'' (which got him the National Award), ``Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin'', ``Bichoo'', ``Major Saab'', ``Mrityudata'' and ``Badal''. ``I have tried to do a variety of roles,'' he says, adding, ``I am a people's person, you know.''

Ten days ago, he was here shooting for a film, ``Zindagi Khoobsurat Hai'' with Gurdas Mann and Junior Pataudi. ``I keep coming to Delhi often,'' he admits. And with a large number of offers in hand, he surprises you when he says he does not plan his career at all. ``Nothing happens with planning,'' he points out. ``I accept every situation and I do not regret any of the films that I have done. I also enjoy to get wet, to drown completely in the situation that I am in.''

Arguing that acting cannot be taught, Ashish says what acting schools can do is to impart sensibilities to a budding actor. ``Seeing a film is also like reading a novel. And when you enter into the spirit of the situation, you grow in the sensibilities that help you identify the character with which you are empathising''.

And it is here that Ashish seems to have broken the shackles that comes along with a normal Bollywood actor. ``Since acting has more to do with possibilities, I have challenged myself in life to take on newer possibilities,'' he says, adding that, ``I was really excited about acting in a Tamil film and I am looking forward to doing more films in different languages''.

Ever ready to face greater challenges and taking on fresh and invigorating assignments, Ashish feels the age of dadagiri was past and an actor like him can survive only with knowledge. He also feels that acting is not the preserve of a few. ``A good actor thrives in every situation on stage provided he is willing to learn and make knowledge his constant companion,'' he says.

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