Marjaavaan: Did Riteish Deshmukh take inspiration from Kamal Haasan’s Appu Raja and Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero to play vertically challenged man?

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

September 27, 2019 - 10:55 AM IST

Riteish Deshmukh is once again set to turn villain in Milap Zaveri’s upcoming revenge saga, Marjaavaan starring alongside Sidharth Malhotra, Rakul Preet Singh and Tara Sutaria. The film’s trailer released on Thursday which showcased the gritty side of this masala drama. Since Riteish Deshmukh is essaying the role of a vertically challenged man, he was asked whether he took inspiration from Kamal Haasan’s Appu Raja and Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero.

Marjaavaan: Did Riteish Deshmukh take inspiration from Kamal Haasan’s Appu Raja and Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero to play vertically challenged man?

The actor said, “Kamal Haasan sahab’s performance, greatness is beyond any technology. When we were doing it, of course, I would wonder looking at other actors – ‘how did they do it?’ But fortunately, technology helps in the khaamiya (flaws) I have as an actor. The VFX helped greatly. I just did one shot five times. It wasn’t that difficult (chuckles).”

Riteish Deshmukh was asked how he justifies his role of a dwarf in the film since there has been a lack of representation in films. He said, “I respect your viewpoint. As an actor when someone has approached me with a role, my job is only to see whether I’ll be able to pull it off and if the directors and the producers have the confidence whether I’ll be able to do justice to what’s offered to me. As an actor, I am ready to play anything, be it a vertically challenged person, old person, young person or a woman also. I have played everything. As an actor, I am open to anything.”

Director Milap Zaveri further elaborated, “While I feel your question is valid, if Mr Anpuam Kher, who is such a great actor, hadn’t played a character older than himself in Saaransh, maybe we wouldn’t have had Anupam Kher ji. Similarly, there are so many great actors who play different roles. Ayushmann in Dream Girl played a person who they all think is a girl. I just think that eventually, while everyone should get an opportunity to act and perform, it’s also equally fair that actors get a chance to experiment. In Saand Ki Aankh, I think it’s superb the way Taapsee and Bhumi have done their parts. It’s great that actors are taking challenges and coming out of their comfort zone. Writers are writing, directors are making, producers are willing to do such things. I guess what matters is who fits the role. I just knew I needed someone like him because of the wickedness, the humour and the performance. That’s why I approached him.”

Produced by T-Series and Nikkhil Advani, Marjaavaan will release on November 8.