“I do negative roles with positive energy.” That is National School of Drama alumnus Yashpal Sharma for you. On a promotional tour for Zee TV's daily soap Mera Naam Karegi Roshan, which will be on air from coming Monday at 10.30 p.m., the seasoned actor took time out recently to talk of his career and why he has chosen to be on television.
Yashpal stays in public memory for his role in Ashutosh Gowarikar's Lagaan where he played the character of Lakha. Almost a decade after it was made, Yashpal retains fond memories of the film. “As you know, the film was shot in Bhuj, and we had a start-to-finish schedule and wrapped up everything in just five-six months. I like films with a tight schedule and not the ones where we start for a few days, then there is a break of a couple of months and then we shoot again. That way it becomes difficult to retain the consistency of the character.”
On that score he has no complaint against the director of Mera Naam Karegi Roshan either. Here he plays Thakur Kuldeep Singh, a role with many negative shades. He says, “We have shot on a tight schedule in Ayodhya and Faizabad over the last two-three months with the temperature touching 48 degree Celcius. We have already shot outdoors for 30 episodes. This is not the serial where we shoot on the sets every day and go home.”
After Lagaan , Yashpal was seen in a number of films like Desh Drohi , Tashan , Aaja Nachle , Bas Ek Pal , Gunaah and many more, and most of the time, he has done negative roles. Yet he says he was longing to do more meaningful roles which would take him to the masses. And Mera Naam Karegi Roshan, he says, has provided him with just the right platform. “This serial may just be the turning point of my career. I am very happy with how my role has shaped up in it. In fact, my role is out and out negative, so much so that at times I feel like telling the director to give me some positive emotions too, but then he tells me, ‘You do negative roles with a positive energy'.”
Yashpal feels in the coming years, more and more Bollywood big shots will be seen on the small screen. “Because the small screen has a bigger reach and audience. Even if the audience is divided, as there are so many channels to choose from.”
Forthcoming films
Though happy with his latest foray into television, Yashpal is not saying goodbye to films. He will soon be seen in Rahul Dholakia's Lamhaa besides David Dhawan's Hook Ya Crook where, believe it or not, he has a positive role. Clearly happy with his success as he sips his scotch sitting at the Taj Palace hotel in New Delhi, Yashpal is at ease with the challenges thrown at him by films and television.
Talk of positive energy!
