‘THERE IS SOME ANXIETY’

Says actor Sharad Kelkar about his back-to-back releases in a month, and working with Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt

Sharad Kelkar has had a busy year, and is now gearing up for a busier few weeks ahead. The actor, who has been part of 14 Marathi and Hindi films including Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013), Lai Bhaari (2014), Hero (2015) and Rocky Handsome (2016), is now looking forward to not one but two releases in a month — Baadshaho and Bhoomi.

“There is some anxiety (laughs),” says Sharad, adding, “I enjoyed playing the roles, and I hope people get entertained as well. I knew that the films would release during this time but I didn’t have an inkling that it would be three weeks apart. When you have back-to-back releases, you are nervous anyway but the films releasing in the same month is a different feeling altogether.”

Sharad will be seen in a prominent role in both the films. While he plays the antagonist in Sanjay Duttstarrer Bhoomi, he enacts the role of a crooked cop in the Ajay Devgn-starrer Baadshaho. “Milan sir (Luthria; director) said that my personality and baritone works, and I would be apt for the role of a greedy cop and the audience will keep guessing if he is a negative or a positive character. When your director shows so much confidence in you, then half your job is done. This film is my first multi-starrer, and it was as much fun as I expected it to. Ajay sir and I got along well as we had worked together on a TV show earlier. I was the host of the show and he was the judge. He has been a well-wisher and has always encouraged me to do films,” he says. Sharad loved the time in between shots as that’s when the cast would bond.

Sharad recalls that the shooting for both the films were happening simultaneously along with his TV show Koi Laut Ke Aaya Hai. “I would shoot in Jodhpur and return to Mumbai to shoot the TV show for a day, and catch the late night flight to Delhi and then drive to Agra for Bhoomi. Shuttling between all these locations was hectic but I had fun doing it.”

Working on Bhoomi with Dutt was a dream come true. “Standing in front of Baba (Dutt) is a big challenge. He is so sweet and nice that I never had any problems on set. He is encouraging and wonderful to work with. Moreover, I loved the fact that I play a desi guy in the film unlike the suave characters I usually play,” he says.