By Hindustan Times
In the Munnabhai series, Arshad Warsi, playing Circuit, became India’s favourite sidekick. Now, in Jolly LLB through which he plays the hero, the actor gets a sidekick of his own. This can be a first for Warsi, who has had several solo hero films to his credit up to now. “I did solo projects like Hero Hindustani (1998) Waisa Bhi Hota Hai (WBHH, 2003), Saher (2005) and Hum Tum Aur Ghost (2008) much earlier, so I don’t care about getting a sidekick in Jolly LLB,” says Warsi. He adds, “It doesn’t matter to me. For me it’s the film and script that matters. What position I'M (within the film) as an actor doesn’t matter.”
At the similar time, Arshad isn’t dismissive of the significance of the supporting actor’s role in a movie. He says unlike one-man army films like Rambo (2008), our films require numerous bounce boards, people around to make things happen. He says, “There are certain things a hero can’t do, it goes against his personality. Therefore you've got a supporting actor. In Jolly LLB, Ishtiyaaq who plays my assistant has done a groovy job.”
Arshad adds that he prefers to be within the space of flicks like WBHH as they're with reference to his sensibilities. He says, “Saher got me critical acclaim though it was a major role after which Kabul Express (2006) happened. I haven’t got an opportunity to do every other serious film but given an opportunity that’s what I WANT to do. Comedies get producers their money and because I did a comic book role in my first film, I got stuck with that.”
Ask him if Jolly LLB gets him more solo hero projects, he says, “Solo roles don’t fascinate me. What matters to me is a movie without reference to whether it has two or five heroes. I AM GETTING fascinated with a movie with a host of honest people training an excellent product. It bothers me if that doesn’t do well. I’d rather do good films, which gets respectability and should not do well than do a foul film doing well but with out a respectability.”
Arshad feels India is the funniest country and not using a sense of humour and that’s what the film is ready. He says, “If you watch our courtrooms or the best way Parliament functions, it’s hilarious. Jolly LLB is in that space.” The actor will next be seen in Zilla Ghaziabad, Dedh Ishqiya and Munnabhai Ki Aatma Katha besides the following Dhamaal series.
