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TV gives platform to show my versatility: Tej Sapru
A fter playing baddie in about 250 films actor Tej Sapru has turned towards television to showcase his versatility.
He has given some powerpacked performances in historical shows and now aims at comedy.
“After playing villain in films no one thought I could do anything else. TV helped me show my acting skills. First time, I am playing a negative role on small screen in my new show Swami Ramdev: Ek Sangharsh’. It’s a strong character. Next, I want to make audience laugh with a comic role and surprise everyone,” says the actor on his visit to Lucknow.
Since the last three-and-ahalf year he hasn’t done any Hindi film. Last, he did a Tamil film Rebel which has been dubbed as The Return of Rebel with actors Prabhas and Tamannah.
“I stayed away from films as I was fed up of playing villains and getting beaten by the hero. All wanted to cast me in stereotype roles as I do my own stunts. I have even damaged my cervical and lumber bones during fights. I don’t mind playing a villain in films but it should be respectable like Amrish Puriji used to do,” he says.
The actor says that nowadays leading actors want to do all important roles.
“Today, main actors do comedy and character roles themselves. Roles done by comedians like Mehmood, Asrani, Joney Lever are all being done by lead actors so where is the scope for artistes like us. TV gives this liberty and I am enjoying it,” he says.
Talking about his small screen journey he says, “On TV I have done over 10 shows where I got chance to play some brilliant characters. In serial Kesaria Balam…I shot my own son just like Nargisji did in Mother India. Amatsya Raksha in Chandragupta Maurya, Seleucus in Ashok, Chanakya in Bharagvarsh, Qubool Hai and Saat Phere have all cult roles.”
Sapru comes from a family of actors.
“I have grown up in an illustrious family. Father (Sapru, actor), mother (Hemlata, actor) and sisters (Priti Sapru and Reema Rakesh Nath both actordirector) all have been part of the industry. So, I know how to bring out right emotions at the right time. Till date I have never used glycerin to bring tears during an emotional scene,” he says. In the forthcoming show on a new channel, he will be seen creating hurdles for the family of young Swami Ramdev.