I am a director's actor: Tusshar Kapoor

Mumbai, Apr 1 (UNI) Bollywood actor Tusshar Kapoor, who touched the chords of moviegoers with his performance in Raj Kumar Santoshi's 'Khaki' as a young sensitive sub-inspector, exposed to nexus between the police, underworld and politicians and Rohit Shetty's laugh riot 'Golmaal' as the deaf and dumb Lucky, is upbeat about his forthcoming releases during 2007.

''Actually, I do not know what my forte is. I am a director's actor. For me, having a good chemistry with the director is as important as getting into ths skin of the character,'' Tusshar said in an interview to UNI.

With a sole release last year, 'Golmaal' becoming a money-spinner, Tusshar said he has as many as four releases lined up during 2007 with different characters.

Since his debut with 'Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai' opposite Kareena Kapoor in 2001, which was a box office hit, his career had seen a downslide with a list of flops apart from 'Kucch To Hai' which was produced by his sister Ekta Kapoor.

After two years, without any major success, his critically acclaimed performance in 'Khakee' (2004), in which he starred opposite biggies like Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan and Aishwarya Rai, brought him back in the reckoning. Since then, he proved his comic streak with box office hits like'Kya Kool Hai Hum' (2005) and 'Golmaal'(2006).

Tusshar is escatistic about his forthcoming release 'Shootout at Lokhandwala' based on the real life incident of the 1991 shootout in the upcoming locality of suburban Mumbai where he plays a negative role for the first time - the character of sharp shooter Dilip Buwa.

''I was hestitant in doing the film when it was offered initially.

I wondered whether I would make myself a laughing stock by playing a character who is totally opposite of my persona and image. I told director Apoorva Lakhia to take my audition. But, the director had confidence that I would carry off the role,'' said the 30-year-old actor.

He said he took the help of Prakash Bharadwaj, a theatre actor who was the performance coach in 'Rang De Basanti' to work on his voice and body language before beginning shooting for the film.

''Apoorva has changed the look of my character from what it was in real life. Dilip Buwa was a quiet, temperamental sharp shooter.

Though he spoke less, there was terror in his eyes. Due to my chemistry with the director, I am quite satisfied with my role in the film,'' he said.

Tusshar agreed that there have been several films based on police encounters over the years. ''But, Apoorva has made the characters look real and normal. No doubt, the film has been glamourised. Each character has depth. The director has not tried to sympathise with them but has portrayed them as they were in real life,'' he added.

Amrita Singh plays the mother of Maya Dolas (Vivek Oberoi) while Dilip Buwa was romantically involved with a bar dancer Tarannum (Aarti Chhabria), Tusshar informed.

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