Circuit is just another character: Arshad Warsi

New Delhi, Dec 17: He is firmly ensconced in public psyche as Circuit, the bumbling acolyte of the don Munnabhai in 'Munnabhai MBBS' and the recent 'Lage Raho Munnabhai'.

His 'all encompassing' image of 'Circuit' notwithstanding, Arshad Warsi continues to try his hand at roles far removed from his 'comical' portrayals in 'Munnabhai MBBS', 'Salaam Namaste', 'Hulchul' and 'Lage Raho Munnabhai'.

The portrayal of 'Circuit' in 'Munnabhai MBBS' and 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' may have given a new lease of life to his film career by bringing him back to the reckoning in the industry but for Arshad Warsi it is time to move on to playing different kind of roles.

''There is no doubt that the character of 'Circuit' will always hold a special place among all my roles. But at the end of it, it is just a character that I played in one movie. However, everybody loved it so much that it has stuck in people's head. However, I have to keep continually doing different films and play different characters,''Arshad says.

After playing an intense role in Kabeer Kaushik's 'Seher' a few years ago, Arshad Warsi is again trying his hand at doing something different in the forthcoming 'Kabul Express', a film that has him in the role of a journalist who goes to Afghanistan to make a documentary on the Taliban.

Talking to UNI on the eve of the film's release, Arshad Warsi said,''Kabul Express is different from what I have done till now.

The film is based on director Kabir Khan's own experiences as a journalist in Afghanistan. In that sense, it is a realistic tale which captures the sweat and toil that war reporters have to put in to deliver breaking news from the war front.'' Asked whether the audience, having seen him in a series of comic portrayals in the past, would accept him in a different image, Arshad said,'' I feel whether or not an actor gets accepted depends on the work he does. So if I have done a good job and people like my work, I will be accepted no matter what character I am playing.'' The film has him opposite John Abraham, who plays the main protagonist in the film whom Arshad has accompanied to Afghanistan.

''Working with John has been a wonderful experience. He is really a pleasure to work with besides being a good actor, he is also a great human being. Infact, the feeling I get working with John is the feeling I get working with Sanju - they are pretty much alike, in the sense John does his work, comes to the set, he has no hang ups, he has no problems.'' Shooting the film in the war-torn country, the first time an entire Indian film has been shot in Afghanistan, was a memorable experience for the actor.

''I had a blast shooting for the film. Despite the fact that we were confined to one hotel where you could not step out there was nowhere to go, I enjoyed myself, I went out to the markets, to the streets, to the street vendors and chatted up with the people and I did everything that nobody would really do. Infact, at the very outset, I was really excited going to Kabul because it was a place one would never go ever. I was going to a place which I would be going for the first and last time in my life so I just wanted to soak into everything that was there like a sponge which I did,'' Arshad said.

According to Arshad, one thing that he liked about the people of Afghanistan was their indomitable spirit and remaining happy despite all turmoil around.

''What fascinated me about Afghanistan and its people was the fact that despite constantly facing the fear of death there is so much of trouble that you can see more AK 47s then mobiles phones you will never see them unhappy or sad as they are always smiling. There are ten year old kids with maturity on their face of a fifty year old man. There are fifty year old men who behave like children,''he said.

For Arshad, being associated with 'Kabul Express' was also special because it was the first time he got an opportunity to represent India on the international forum what with the film making round of several festivals like Toronto, Pusan and London.

''I am proud that my first film to go to the international festivals is 'Kabul Express', which is unlike many of the films making the round of festivals in the past that portray India as a land of poverty, huts and bullock carts. It is misery that's all one sees in such films.

In this sense, 'Kabul Express' is different in that it gives people an idea that that's not what India is all about. Just two regular guys who are regular people, we are educated, we live in cities, yes we've got airports, we have everything,'' Arshad said.

He may be well in the reckoning post the success of 'Lage Raho Munnabhai', but Arshad says henceforth he would do only those films that excite him as an actor.

''I am very clear with my perspective and everything. And I know I will do the film that will excite me, that I would like to watch, that makes me feel good. That is irrespective of what genres it comes in and what kind of film it is - be it a comedy, a serious film, or a crossover any kind of cinema If after hearing the story and visualizing it in my mind, I like the film I'll do it, if I don't like it I won't do it,''he added.

UNI