By Hindustan Times
Once an actor always an actor. Quite true for 97-year-old A.K. Hangal, who wears grease paint despite the ripe age in a task within the television show Madhubala. He's excited and says work knows no age limit. "I THINK there is not any age limit to work. But at the present time I AM NOT keeping well,"
Hangal told IANS.
Talking in regards to the show, he said: "I'M feeling great about it. For past few years I HAVE NEVER worked, but I'VE done a small role within the serial."
He was active in filmdom since 1967 and played on-screen father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle to many firstclass Bollywood actors, but two years ago Hangal - the famous Rahim Chacha of Sholay - was struggling for his life as his source of income had dried up and there has been hardly any money for food or medicine.
But his son Vijay, 75, says that now they're doing fine.
"Financially we're doing fine. We keep getting help from people from the film fraternity. There are numerous people from the industry who're our well-wishers. We also get help from welfare trust. At this time we're not facing any financial problem," he told IANS.
Prashaant Bhatt, concept head of Madhubala, says that he thought of A.K. Hangal for the show since the serial is a tribute to 100 years of India.
"As we have now mentioned earlier that Madhubala is a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema. Mr. A.K. Hangal was a part of the industry for this type of very long time and his presence made an enormous difference to us. In fact, his blessings matter a lot," said Bhatt.
He was initially sceptical about Hangal accepting the role, however the senior actor's enthusiasm proved his worries wrong.
"Very frankly, he was super excited to do the role. He's 97 now and he has not been keeping well, so we were sceptical whether he would conform to do the role. But if we spoke to him, he said when and where to return for the scene and what's going to be my role," added Bhatt, who's also the fiction head of Colors, told IANS.
"He involves the set, looks around and together with his gentle voice he calls - 'makeup man'. Once an actor always an actor. It was an honour to have him at the show," he added.
Madhubala went on air Monday and it tells the tale of a woman who's forced into the arena of showbiz. Drashti Dhami plays the title role and the solid also includes Vivian D'sena, Raj Zutshi and Shagufta Ali.
