Dark shades, clenched fists and a booming voice, the moment camera turns on, Gulshan Grover transforms into the Bad Man. It has been almost three decades since Ram Lakhan hit the screens but Grover continues to sell the face of a villain which Hindi cinema no longer flaunts. Has it become a liability for the trained actor, who rose to prominence by doing theatre in Delhi? “It is not a liability. It was self-created. As I come from Shri Ram College of Commerce for me an actor is like a brand, which should have a recall value. If there is a romantic role you remember Rajesh Khanna. When you think of a colourful lover Dev Anand’s image comes to mind. If there is a dancing rebel you visualise Shammi Kapoor. If you say tragedy queen, Meena Kumari’s face comes in front of you. It is necessary to create an image if you have to become a star otherwise you will remain an actor,” reflects Grover as we sit for a bite at Rock Pub of National Sports Club of India.
Keen to be under the right spotlight, Grover picks the chair of his choice and asks for nachos with salsa sauce. Behind the façade of a bad man, Grover says he is a common man whom you find at a bus stop or driving a scooter. Somebody who polished his cooking skills so that as a single parent he is not found wanting. “When I entered the industry, the villains of the time were dominating in real life as well. Take Ranjeet, he had bulging biceps and he would enter the parties in unbuttoned shirts with a big gold locket dangling out. I had no face or figure to flaunt. But during my training in the laboratory of Kishore Namit Kapoor, where Anil Kapoor and Mazhar Khan were my batch mates, I realised that the villain is a person in the film who is unaffected by face value and age doesn’t matter for him. You just have to be a fantastic actor. And I told people, I might not look like one but the moment you turn on the camera I will let you know how big a villain I am.”
And then he became typecast. “People warned me about this in the very beginning and I said a trained actor never gets typecast. It took me time but I came out of it with films like Bawandar and later I Am Kalam . As we speak I have four films lined up for release in a month,” avers Grover quickly mentioning the names of Unindian , Biba Boys and Chehre .
The language of cinema has changed. Today a villain doesn’t have to be loud. “I understand but in those days that was the sur of our cinema and had we played our own beat we would have been sidelined. Having said that an actor should evolve, not just in terms of clothes and food but the entire process of acting and I am game for this evolution,” reflects Grover as missi roti and mixed vegetable catch his attention.
But he has complained about the changing nature of the villain? “I said these days people cast directors as villains just to make newspaper headlines,” Grover takes a jibe at casting Karan Johar in Bombay Velvet .
In Chehre he is working with his long time friends, Manisha Koirala and Jackie Shroff. Praising Manisha’s cooking skills, Grover turns to food culture in the film industry. “Film City is the meeting place for actors. Like school kids we all bring tiffins from home. Those who are more successful their drivers go home and bring fresh piping hot food. For me Anil Kapoor tops the list. His wife sends food that can be consumed by 8-10 people. If you have Mughlai in mind, just remind Salman Khan. Shah Rukh Khan brings interesting health food. With Suniel Shetty you get good Manglorean food.” As for the food from his kitchen he tells an anecdote. “Once I was shooting with Suniel. He said let’s bring our tiffins to the table and eat. I refused. He felt I had something special. He went to my van and brought my tiffin and had it. A few minutes later he said, yaar, you can start a side business. You can supply food to the hospital. It is bloody bland!” As an after thought, he adds Jackie also brings good food but like a school kid he finishes it by 10.30-11. “With Akshay (Kumar) you are always conscious because his dietician comes along!” And then, adds Grover, there are films like Kaun Kitney Paani Mein . “ Yahaan acting zyada hoti hai, khana kam milta hai ”.
Coming back to evolution, Grover insists the old school villain has not been completely wiped off. “Wait for Pooja Bhatt’s Cabaret where I am the main villain. I will make you say yeh mar jaye to achcha hai !.Oh! that wicked feeling…!
