The second act

Yashpal Sharma clearly stands out on the sets of the short film he is shooting for, a few kilometers outside Pune. Resting on a chair, with only a pair of dark sunglasses shielding him the harshness of the afternoon sunrays, his towering personality can easily be spotted amidst the noise and clutter of the crew. So, what is a talented character actor from mainstream Bollywood doing in a non-descript village, on a terribly hot day, shooting for a short film, which won’t be released commercially? “See, all these new, young directors really want to do good work. I want to be a part of their efforts. And also, I’m an actor, I will act, whatever the format of the film is,” he says, referring to off-beat films like Frozen (Shivaji Chandrabhushan) and Butterfly Chase (Jahnu Barua), which he’s recently done.

Is there more creative satisfaction for this NSD graduate in roles in alternate cinema? Has mainstream Bollywood format failed to make use of his abundant talent?
“ Haan, yeh frustration toh ahin, magar adjust karna padta hain. Now it’s also a fact that I can’t look or dance like Shah Rukh Khan. But, definitely these lesser-known films satisfy the artiste in me much more than a Bollywood potboiler,” Sharma confesses. For him, doing plays with veterans like Makarand Sathe and Gulzar and doing a peripheral character role in an out-an-out entertainer like Singh is Kiing isn’t irreconcilable. “Balance rakhna padta hain. Paisa bhi toh kamana hain,” is his pragmatic explanation.

While he’s justifying his choice of films to us, a group of village children rush to flock him for autographs. “They’ve bought a CD of a film called Bhai, a Hindi translation of a Telegu film I did. They confirmed that I’m the same guy and have come to me only after seeing the proof,” he smiles. The children look up at him in awe, probably startled that this tough, Bollywood baddie is really a harmless, down-to-earth guy with a gentle smile and a charming rustic accent to his flawless Hindi. “Yes, I did make a few mistakes…2-3 films I regret doing. But I’m satisfied with most films I’ve done…however big or small the role was...be it Dhoop, Chameli or Apaharan,” he seems to be thinking aloud, while playfully obliging his young fans. And Lagaan? How did that change things for him? “It got me noticed. I didn’t have to run from one studio to another with my photos and portfolio in search of work after Lagaan….But most calls I got offered me the role of a villain,” he tells us. But hasn’t the portrayal of the villain in Bollywood evolved from being completely negative to having nuanced grey shades – thereby making it challenging? “Yes, the clear demarcation between negative and positive characters has blurred now. Heroes like Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor have started playing the bad guys. Stories with typical negative roles have nothing new to offer and these roles were coming my way. They don’t excite me anymore,” he says, clearly eager to shake off the stereotype.

Fortunately for him, Hindi cinema is changing. “If you go to see all the good films that have come in the recent past, they’re made by relatively new filmmakers. All these so far lesser-known guys are making excellent films. And the big guys are making bad films,” he jokes. But among the few good, exciting films on his plate rite now, there is a big name – David Dhawan. “I’m doing a film called Hook Ya Crook with him. You know, people have this image of Davidji, because he makes all those brainless comedies. But believe me, he’s one most intelligent film-maker and best human beings I’ve met in the industry. He knows what he’s doing,” he enthuses. So is this comedy going to be different? “Yes. It’s his most sensible film till date. It has people like Kay Kay Menon, Shreyas Talpade, John Abraham and so on. Maybe Davidji has realised that the taste of the audiences in comedies has changed, with films like Khosla ka Ghosla, Oye Lucky...doing well. He knows the pulse of the audience. I’m very excited about this film,” he reveals.

Another film he’s very kicked about is FTII alumnus Paresh Kamdar’s Johny Johny Yes Papa. “It will remind people of Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves. I play the lead in the film,” he informs. The excitement on his face, when he talks about his forthcoming releases is enough to announce that an actor’s long-awaited time in the sun has finally come. “ Aur to aage bohot kaam karna hain. Abhi to andar kuch khalbali machi hain,” he signs off. Of course, we have no doubt that his very best is yet to come.