Never had any self-doubts about playing a superhero - Shreyas Talpade

Shreyas Talpade is back as an actor in the Marathi film industry after eight long years and he is all set to enthrall the masses with his superhero avatar in Baji. In an exclusive chat with Tellychakkar.com, the actor discusses box-office pressures, superhero dreams and the reason behind doing lesser number of projects in Bollywood.

We have seen in you different roles but never as a larger-than-life superhero. Did you have any self-doubts about playing a superhero when you were offered the script?

Every kid dreams of becoming a superhero after watching films like Superman or Spiderman and you also try to be like one by wearing your underwear over your pants and all that jazz. I was no different. Even after growing up the child inside you remains alive somewhere who tells you that someday you have to play a superhero. When Nikhil Mahajan (director) and his team approached me, more than self doubting myself, I was quite surprised that they visualized me as their superhero. So in a way I was taken aback. But when I read the script, I got super excited and felt that this is the best way of fulfilling the dream of that kid inside me who still wants to be a superhero. The only doubt crept in when I injured my left shoulder and doctors asked me to rest it for six months to nine months. I felt frustrated then because I couldn’t do anything for that period. But Nikhil said there is nothing to worry even then. He got me out of my comfort zone and made me believe that I am his Baji.

What kind of superhero are you playing in this movie?

It’s a superhero who is more in the mould of Zorro or Phantom. He is a very real and ordinary guy who wants to protect his village and villagers. Unlike, Superman or Spiderman, I am not blessed with any supernatural powers in this movie.

Is a superhero movie relevant in today’s times?

See Baji revolves around a superhero from a fictitious village. It’s like those stories that you read in comic books like Chandamama. A ‘Once Upon A Time’ story. So it’s always relevant.

You are making a comeback to Marathi cinema as an actor after eight long years. Now that you are a bankable name is there any added pressure to deliver?

Definitely there is. It reminds me of an incident that happened while I was shooting for Om Shanti Om.  One day we were having lunch when Nikhil Dwivedi and Amrita Rao visited us on sets. Looking at the grand set, Nikhil remarked, ‘what a set’ and asked SRK about the money spent on building it. When SRK said it cost him more than a crore, Nikhil said that the amount would equal the total budget of his (Nikhil’s) movie and SRK’s films are the ones to watch. SRK then told Nikhil, ‘Beta this looks good from a distance but pressure utna hi zyada hai if the film doesn’t do well’. Infact, I remember there was a time when he had offers from various people to buy the film and it was insane. Every day he would tell us that there is a 55 crore offer today, 80 crore today. I asked him why he isn’t selling it to the highest bidder. SRK told me, ‘No I can’t. Tomorrow if the film doesn’t work, I cannot be cheating my buyers and distributors.’ So somewhere when you look something like this (Baji), it is a similar kind of phase for me. Yes, there are a lot of expectations. I am doing a big budget Marathi film after long and it boils down to your shoulders to get the audience in theaters.

Why didn’t you co-produce this movie?

I deliberately wanted to stay away from producing and focus on this as an actor. I was also in the middle of producing Poster Boyz when Baji happened and I didn’t want any extra stress and responsibility.

You are seen less in Bollywood now. Have you become selective?

There comes a point in life when you after doing certain films and you sit and decide, “Okay you have done certain films for friends, some for money. Now it’s time to work for your own self.” So when you are working for yourself you do get selective. Also for me, it’s a welcome break.