SHREYAS DOES NOT WANT TO BE STEREOTYPED

Shreyas Talpade, who joined the Golmaal gang only in the third instalment of the franchise, was excited as well as pleasantly surprised when he was offered the film, Golmaal Again. “I’d thought Rohit (Shetty; film-maker) had given up on making the film considering we had taken a break of seven years. But he just wanted to have a proper script in place as people have a lot of expectations (from the film). They want the franchise to keep getting made, especially the kids,” he says.

Talking about associating with Rohit, he says, “What I admire about him is that he is quite grounded as a person. He wants to give audiences value for money that makes him one of the best we have in the country. It may sound clichéd but he is like an elder brother, whom you can look up to.”

Shreyas, who made his directorial debut with Poster Boys this year, says the shift from being an actor to director has been wonderful. “I enjoyed every bit of the process. It’s a different kick because you’re involved in every little aspect of film-making. I’ve become non-judgemental about directors and people now (laughs). I don’t question a director anymore, unless it (the script) is going absolutely off track.”

Ask him if he would focus more on direction now and he says, “Acting always remains my first love. The reason I took up this profession is because I wanted to play different characters. However, I’d like to direct as well.”

Shreyas is mainly known for his roles in comedy films. So, does he feels he has been stereotyped as a comic actor, he says, “After I did my first film Iqbal (2005), I remember a senior film-maker auditioned me for a comedy film. He said, ‘I loved your audition, but [because of] the serious image you have of Iqbal, I don’t know if people will relate [to you as a comedian]. So, I don’t want to take a chance’. He said he had no questions about my acting abilities, but couldn’t cast me. I decided I needed to dabble into different genres and that people perceive me as a good actor rather than just a serious or comedy actor.”

Shreyas Talpade