"Taking about recognition if you see in Hollywood they would always refer to an actor as an Oscar nominated or Oscar rewarded, whereas in our industry it's not taken that seriously" - Pawan Malhotra 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, February 7, 2007 - 11:43 IST
Pawan Malhotra – the name might not instantly strike a chord with today’s young audiences. But the name has been synonymous with the small screen and offbeat cinema in the late 80s. He played lead roles in serials like Nukkad and Circus and films like Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro and Bagh Bahadur, both of which won the Best Film National Award in the same year – 1989 as the best Hindi and Best Regional Film. His National Award connection doesn’t end there. He won the Best Actor award for the film Fakeer in 1998.
He was last seen as Narang in Shahrukh Khan’s Don and will be next playing Tiger Memon in the much talked about film Black Friday that releases this Friday. IndiaFM spoke to the talented actor on life and times.
You returned to the big screen with DON after a long time. Where were you all this while?
I was doing Karisma on TV, but it got wrapped up and I did not take up anymore serials after that. I did two Telugu films for which I won a Filmfare award, post which I
came back and shot for Black Friday whose release was stalled until now.
How does it feel to return to the big screen?
It feels very good and I hope I am offered with good work
How much did Don help in getting you recognition in the present day Bollywood?
Nothing came up immediately. A lot of people have seen Don so it will make a difference. I guess the whole impression that I don’t want to do commercial cinema is
wrong. I am not looking for any particular kind of cinema; I am looking for good roles.
Your long stuck film Black Friday is finally releasing this Friday. You play Tiger Memon in the film. Tell us something about your character?
Tiger Memon was the one who designed the whole conspiracy of the 93 bomb blasts. As a character he was very confident and short tempered.
How was it playing a real life character and did you do any research for the role?
I did not personally meet any of the characters, but we met people who had interacted with the characters in real life. It is a big responsibility as an actor when you
portray a real life character. I also read parts of the book Black Friday written by Hussein Zaidi which talks about Tiger’s character and his involvement in the blasts.
And lastly a friend and I went around in Dongri and asked people for information. Thus I think whatever we could gather helped us in shaping the character.
| It is a big responsibility as an actor when you portray a real life character
|
This will be Anurag Kashyup’s first release. Finally his jinx image will fall off. How was it working with him?
My experience was very good. Before we started the film we would sit and discuss the scenes. Once we began the shoot I asked him how he wanted the scene to be
and he said to me that Pawan we have already discussed what has to be done, now you do what you think is right, if I think there is something missing or wrong I will tell
you. Anurag is very sensible and smart as a director. The whole shoot went off very smoothly.
| Anurag is very sensible and smart as a director |
After that you have another film coming up – ‘My Name is Anthony Gonsalves
That seems to be an author-backed role. Can you tell us something about your character in the film?
It is very interesting. In most of my films be it Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, Vikrut, Don, Black Friday, Pachas Lakh and My Name is Anthony Gonsalves I
have played an underworld guy. Even though all these characters were from the underworld they were different. Like in Salim Langda he was very vulnerable
and in Don he was more subdued. In all the films the body language and attitudes are different
| In most of my films I have played an underworld
guy |
You are a 3 time National award winner. Does winning the National Award help you gain recognition in the industry?
No I got just one national award in 1998 as a special jury award for my film Fakeer, but my film Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro and Bagh Bahadur got
best film national awards in 1989
Taking about recognition if you see in Hollywood they would always refer to an actor as an Oscar nominated or Oscar rewarded, whereas in our industry it’s not taken
that seriously. Yes it does have some standards, but the award it not connected with the commercial success of the film but with your performance.
| Taking about recognition if you see in Hollywood they would always refer to an actor
as an Oscar nominated or Oscar rewarded, whereas in our industry it’s not taken that seriously. |
In ‘My Name is Anthony Gonsalves ’ you are working with another National Award winning director – E.Niwas. How is E.Niwas as a director?
Very good, he is a very good director. Even in future he has any work for me I will definitely do it.
A newcomer Nikhil Dwivedi plays the title role in ‘My Name is Anthony Gonsalves’. Tell us about the new actor.
He is always prepared for a scene; he has never forgotten a dialogue, he is a focused and good actor. I wish him all the best for everything he does.
Is the film got anything to do with the yesteryear Amitabh Bachchan starrer Amar Akbar Anthony?
It’s just a title and has nothing to do with Amar Akbar Anthony
How important is this film for your career?
I think every single project is important for an actor. If there is a long gap between my films there wouldn’t be any journalists writing about me, audience will forget me
.Every film is different from the one you have done earlier. So every film is important for an actor’s career.
Your other film like ‘Pachas Lakh’ has been stuck since a long time. Do you feel bad about it? Whom do you blame for the delay?
Pachas lakh got delayed due to distribution problem. Now they are ready with the film but are waiting for a right time for a release. During Diwali there were so
many big films coming up that the film wouldn’t have got a proper show time and I think it is very important for a film to have a proper release at the right time.
| I think it is very important for a film to have a proper release at the right time.
|
Why did you do a two-bit role in Pardes? Was it just for your friend Shahrukh Khan?
The role which was offered to me was shot exactly the way it was narrated to me. My track was with Shah Rukh Khan. Eventually a lot of my part was edited, but along
with my part even Shahrukh lost out on those scenes. Its not that I was cheated but finally in the editing the track was cut short because they had overshot the film.
How is your rapport with Shah Rukh Khan?, keeping in mind that you have worked with him in one of your first TV serials and also lately in Don. Also his production house 'Red Chillies' is producing your film My Name is Anthony Gonsalves’
My rapport with Shahrukh is very good, I am not saying that we are buddies and we go to each others place very often. But yes whenever we meet we sit and chat and
catch up on things, we got such a chance on the sets of Don. I have known Shahrukh for a long time but otherwise also he is very well behaved with people. Once he is
on the sets he hardly will go back to his make up room, he is completely focussed, and always helps his co-stars.
| Once Shahrukh is on the sets he hardly will go back to his make up room, he is
completely focussed, and always helps his co-stars. |
You also did some Telugu films? Was it because you didn’t get anything interesting to do in Bollywood?
I was doing TV and I got an offer for a film which was very interesting. I also got a Filmfare award for the film But then I realised I wasn’t enjoying what was being
offered; also the language was a problem.
Any other films you are working on?
Well at the moment there is one more project which is in the pipeline, I am not bothered about the language as long as the film and role are good.
| I am not bothered about the language as long as the film and role are good.
|
What kind of roles are you looking out for in the future?
Well all sorts of roles, I am an actor, even the buffoony dancing and all, as long as they make sense. It’s just by chance that I have been offered underworld roles but as
an actor I would enjoy different roles.
What do you prefer – theatre, movies, TV?
At the moment movies are my priority.
|
Adlabs acquires Black Friday for a February 9 release
