The post-release promotion of one film and the pre-release publicity of the other kept Tusshar Kapoor on his toes. He also has reasons to smile. His film, Shor in the City, opened to rave reviews last month and he followed it up a couple of days ago with Love U Mr Kalakaar, a Rajshri Productions' film. “I am enjoying every moment of it though I am quite exhausted,” he says.
Miles to go
A decade in Bollywood and Tusshar Kapoor is happily miles away from where he began. As the inhibited actor in his first role opposite Kareena Kapoor in Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai , Tusshar had virtually been written off. About two dozen films later, he now comes across as confidence personified. Shor in the City has impressed even his critics if his popular Golmaal series hadn't. “It has been an uphill climb. But I guess things changed after Khakee . The Golmaal series also worked for me. I feel people are waking up to me now. But I have miles to go,” says Jeetendra's son and TV and film producer Ekta's brother.
His latest film Love U Mr Kalakaar is “a sweet, typically Rajshri film set in a contemporary milieu.” Tusshar plays Sahil, a caricature artist who wants to have a comic strip of his own in a newspaper. He falls in love with Ritu (Amrita Rao), a management trainee at the newspaper. “Sahil is not ambitious; he is passionate about realising his goal. He's driven by creativity but doesn't enjoy working like a machine. He is not someone who runs after money,” says Tusshar. “The film blends romance and drama like other Rajshri films.” Though he is working under the famed Sooraj Barjatya banner, does he rue the fact that Sooraj hasn't been at the helm of affairs but first-time director S Manasvi? “It would have been great had Sooraj directed this, but Manasvi is an extension of Sooraj. He is sincere and professional and stands for Rajshri values. He knew exactly how he wanted to handle his script.”
After being loved in the comedy series Golmaal and appreciated in the edgy thriller Shor in the City , did he have any apprehension about shifting gear and acting in a romance? “I began my career with romance. I was waiting for a banner to offer me a romantic lead again,” says Tusshar, who is also comfortable carrying a film on his shoulders. “People always talk about the pressure on the protagonist in a single hero film. But isn't it difficult to hold your own in a multi-star venture and get noticed? Solo or not is not an issue. It is reasonable to blame an actor for his acting, not for the role,” says Tusshar.
In the pipeline
* Hum Tum Aur Shabana: Directed by Sagar Ballary of Bheja Fry fame, August release
* The Dirty Picture: Directed by Milan Luthria under Ekta Kapoor's ALT entertainment, shoot begins this month
* Satish Kaushik's untitled comedy
