‘Reality shows don’t help an actor’s career’
He’s spent more than two decades as an actor, but Arshad Warsi feels his profession hasn’t changed him as a person. The actor jokes, “My mind is so small that there is no room for improvement. Maybe there’s still time to prove myself. If I change, Maria (Goretti; wife) and my children will beat the hell out of me. I don’t think I have changed at all as a person. My friends have been telling me for years that I should behave like a star sometimes.”
Speaking about his early days in the industry, Arshad says his knowledge of “acting was zero”. “I wish I’d been aware of how things worked. I’d tell my younger self that acting is just one aspect of the job, and you should also learn how to network, which I wasn’t and still am not good at. But it has been fine. You should do what makes you happy.”
Arshad will soon be judging a new TV reality show that will focus on children’s talents. He says he is quite excited about the prospect. “Kids are my weakness, and it will be tough to judge them. I can’t say mean things to anyone, and that isn’t required on TV shows. The only problem I ever have is with the government,” he says.
Arshad says working on TV is fun, but he also feels there are too many reality shows. “Reality shows don’t help an actor’s career. It is just another phase or project for any actor. It helps your bank balance, but that’s it. To be an actor, you have to be an actor.”
The actor says he doesn’t see any harm in reality shows as “they provide entertainment”, but he does have an issue about their content sometimes. “My only issue with reality shows is when I see young kids, especially girls, gyrating to songs that are meant for grown-ups. Kids should dance to songs appropriate for their age. My show’s producer and channel have assured me that none of this will happen on the show I am judging. If that happens, you will see my angry side. I will then call the [contestants’] parents and ask them what is wrong with them.”