There are a few actors who ensure their audience has something new to look forward to every time their film is released. Sharman Joshi, is one of them. From wearing his heart on his sleeve as a Haryanvi in Rang de Basanti to playing a collegian in 3 Idiots , he has always succeeded in wooing his fans. The actor will now be seen with Javed Jaafery and Soha Ali Khan in War Chhod Na Yaar directed and written by Faraz Haider.
“The USP of the film is that it is India’s first war comedy. It is a well written script that has been well executed. It has gone beyond the expected. The plot surrounds Indian and Pakistani soldiers on the Indo-Pak border, at the time of peace, and the relationship they share with each other. They engage in casual banter and have their own issues which they discuss in tongue-in-cheek kind of humour, simultaneously providing ample food for thought. The movie is as entertaining as is substantial.”
About his role on the film, he says: “I play Rajendra Singh Rana who is the captain of the Indian Army in this film. He’s hardworking and disciplined. He’s quite a big flirt too and you’ll see that when he flirts with Soha, who plays the role of a reporter.”
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What drew him to the film was that “it wasn’t a gimmick script. I really liked how satire wove itself into the film that is based on very believable real life situations. And when there’s intelligent humour involved, it becomes a lethal combination. Its social relevance in today’s time and age was also reason enough to take up this project,” Sharman says.
And was there any research he had to do for his role? “Not really,” the actor responds. “I have spent enough and more time with Army folk to know how they behave, talk and work. Also, the uniform helped! Once in it, it brought out the Army chief in me!”
While he didn’t have to spend any time on homework, the film came with challenges of its own. “The weather conditions were extreme and shooting in April and May for so long in a desert is something I’ve never done before. In fact, Soha and I had to shoot a romantic song and it was crazy because there was dust flying into our eyes and mouth! But then again, I enjoyed every bit of working on this film.”
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Sharman has worked with Soha Ali Khan before in Rang de Basanti , back in 2006. “It was great working with Soha again. We share a really good friendship so much so we started from where we left off when we met on the sets. She’s a witty girl and good fun to be around.”
With a string of projects he’s working on that will be released shortly, Sharman is happy to be finding work that he enjoys doing. “I’ve got Super Nani coming up with Rekha and Randhir Kapoor. Then there’s Satish Kaushik’s Gang of Ghosts in which I will be acting with Mahi Gill and Anupam Kher. Vikram Bhatt’s film, 1920 in London , is another release I am looking forward to,” he says.
When he isn’t acting, Sharman says he enjoys watching movies, holidaying and spending time with his family.
War Chhod Na Yaar releases today.