I have become addicted to Madur Bhandarkar

Rahul Singh tells Jyothi Venkatesh that with Jail, the truth of his performance as an actor has gone up by many more degrees

In what way has your performance in Jail helped you as an actor?

I am still happily basking in the glory of the compliments, which are coming my way for my sterling performance in the recently released Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Jail, in which I have essayed the character of Abdul Ghani. I feel that after having made my debut with Shyam Benegal’s Zubeida, I have indeed come a long way since then, growing in strength as an actor.

How did you prepare to get into the skin of your character in Jail?

Though Madhur did not ask me, on my own I went to Arab galli near Alfred Theatre in Mumbai to a motor garage to hang out there not just for a day or two but for actually ten days to observe how mechanics behave and learn their accent to bring life to my character. I also made it a point to go to Jodhpur Jail and speak to the prisoners there, since I play a tough prisoner with a soft heart in the film Jail.

Would you agree that as far as length is concerned, your role is not at all a big one?

If you go by its length, the character of Abdul Ghani is not very pivotal, but I am glad that I could make an impact with my role and succeed in bagging a lot of encomiums not only from the masses but also by the discerning critics. I enjoyed getting my teeth into the skin of the character of mechanic Abdul Ghani, who is a happy go lucky guy tossed around by one moment of anger.

How would you rate your performance as an actor in Jail?

Looking back at my career so far, I can say that though Zubeida won me nomination as the best actor and my best performance as an actor was in Kachchi Sadak, with Jail, the truth of my performance has gone up by many more degrees.

Is it true that you had studied acting not in India but abroad?

Yes. I had studied acting from Royal Academy of Drama and British Film Institute, London.

What do you have to say about Madhur Bhandarkar as a director?

I had acted with a director like Madhur Bhandarkar for the first time. Like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Madhur is also not technically sharp but his story telling is absolutely excellent. Madhur knows which direction he is going into. He does not give you much stress as an actor, because his vision is so clear that you follow it without being explained. He is a very good captain. What I like about Madhur is that he is absolutely contrary to the serious image that he has.

How humble is Madhur as a director?

I confess that I was pleasantly surprised and shocked when Madhur asked me whether I felt that he had been able to do justice to me as an actor, after the trial show of Jail. I told Madhur without mincing words that he had done justice to me as an actor to such an extent that I have become addicted to him and would love to be part of every film of his, whether he wants me or not and finds me suitable or not for the character that he has in mind for his films.

Which are the films you are having up your sleeves as of now?

I play one of the main leads in quite a few films like Manmohan Shetty’s next untitled film with Abhishek Sharma as the director, Farhan Akhtar’s Dhruv, directed by Sudhir Mishra, Amol Gupte’s next film after Taare Zameen Par, Taara Sitara, Aamir Khan’s Delhi Belly and Prakash Jha’s Turning 50 directed by Alankrita with Gul Panag and Purab Kohli as my co-stars. Besides these films, I also have Shamin Desai’s Raftaar in which I play the negative role with Emraan Hashmi and Neha Dhupia and Shyam Benegal’s Well Done Abba in which I am doing a comedy role.

How happy are you with the progress that you have made as an actor till date?

I am quite happy with the progress that he I have made as an actor ever since I had made my debut with Zubeida. Till date I have had a very diverse range as an actor, having done not only comic but also romantic as well as negative in several films like Zubeida, Darna Mana Hai, Netaji, Kyon Ho Gaya Na, Firaaq as well as Sikander and Jail, besides Kachchi Sadak.

Tell me about any memorable feedback that you have received as an actor till date!

I was overwhelmed when the son of Zaman Kiyani, the Commanding Officer of Indian National Army, who was technically India’s first war hero, rang me up to tell me that he felt like he was watching his father on the screen when he saw me playing the role in Shyam Benegal’s Netaji.

What is your dream as an actor?

I confess that my dream is to work with sensitive directors ranging from Rajkumar Hirani and J.P. Dutta to Dipankar Bannerji, Anurag Basu and Kabir Khan.