Tusshar Kapoor: ' 'The Dirty Picture' characters are as dirty and clean as any normal person!'

His perfect comic timing in laugh-riots: Kya Kool Hai Hum, Hum Tum Shabana and the Golmaal franchisee have earned praise for Tusshar Kapoor. Presently, he's readying to enthrall audiences with his 'colourful' character 'Ramakant', in the forthcoming flick The Dirty Picture. In a candid tête-à-tête with Pankhurie Mulasi, Tusshar reveals the movie's 'dirty' side… and his too…

After a much-busy day, looking dapper in his black sweatshirt Tusshar Kapoor appears at a plush venue in suburban Mumbai, though way too late. However, being his charming self Tusshar apologises for the delay and without much ado we roll on for a 'dirty' chit-chat about one of the year's most awaited and talked about movies: The Dirty Picture, his future projects and plans.

The film's release is just round the corner on Silk Smitha's birth anniversary. How excited are you about the film considering the fact that a lot of effort has been put in to making it?

 I'm very excited as it is an ambitious project, it's much awaited by the people and the promos have got good reaction. The music has worked well so far and the concept has also excited people a lot.

 How did you land this role?

 I got a call from Milan Lutharia. He had suggested my name, so I got a call from the production that he wants to meet me. I was very excited and that is when I decided in my mind that I wanted to be a part of this project. But it was only when I came back to Mumbai, I was abroad at that time, that I took a narration and after a couple of weeks I was signed on board.

Tell us about your role in the film and how did you prepare for it?

 My character's name is Ramakant, who is a writer by profession. I did a lot of reading of the script, we were given a narration and then the script, which we read over and over again. At least I read it over and over again, to understand the character. We also did a lot of photo sessions to decide on the 'look' and 'look tests' were done to finalise it. So, it was a combination of rehearsals at home and readings with the other actors which made us more confident and prepared to play our parts in the film.

How did you zero in on this particular 'look'?

 That was decided by Milan and Niharika who is the costume designer of the film. They both took a look at those pictures, probably and decided what should be the final 'look' of Ramakant.

Everyone is finding your 'look' in the film similar to your dad's in his hey-days. Did you incorporate anything from your dad's wardrobe?

 No we didn't. Actually, it was all decided by Niharika, but yes a lot of costumes that were given to me felt very similar to the ones that he would wear in his hey-days. So I could see a similarity, but it wasn't planned. And the wig that I'm wearing in the film is very different from the wig that he used to wear. Nothing was planned, but I think because I resemble him a lot and so people are finding a similarity between our 'looks'.

Give us some details about the much talked about lip-lock. Did you do any kind of preparation before shooting the scene?

 We just came on sets, Vidya and myself, we took instructions from the director and we tried to make it as natural as possible. We tried to be our characters and get it right so that the spontaneity is there. Besides I think people should just see it in the film and decide for themselves what they think about it.

You revealed that there is a lady love in hiding. Did she have any problem with it?

 No, no, I never said that, I must have been misquoted. I just said that I meet people, of course, and I haven't found the right person.

You were also quoted saying that you won't mind being called a soft-porn star, post the release of the film? Is the film that raunchy that it will earn you this title?

 I said that this movie is not a soft-porn film, there is nothing dirty to that extent that people would feel embarrassed to watch the film. But even if it were to be and if I had to get my image tarnished a bit, I wouldn't have a problem with that. That is what I had said that I would have no problem being labelled a soft-porn star, because I will always do all kind of films but this is not that kind of film that would give me this image.

Which was the most interesting or most difficult scene that you did in the film?

I think all the sequences that were done in Hyderabad were very memorable because they reminded me of those films that were made in the '80's. What comes to my mind first is the night sequence where Vidya and I had an emotional, romantic encounter on top of a car and we took three nights to shoot that! There would be a dragonfly attack or the rains would come or some kind of a problem would come, so we were not able to shoot it in one go. Those were times when I think the shoot became more memorable, than it would have been otherwise.

Reports suggested that you had to carry Vidya 150 times for a scene! Was it an exaggerated number and why did you give so many retakes?

 That happened during the photo-session. I didn't have to carry her, I just had to support her. But her body weight was on me and had to do it quite a number of times, because the angle was not coming out right. The photographer wanted a certain posture, a certain expression, therefore we had to keep on repeating it. So it happened around 150 times!

Any after affects?

There were no after affects and that was one interesting, memorable moment. But there were no after affects like backache or she wasn't heavy or anything… such matter just gets made up.

Emraan Hashmi was invited to have 'biryani' while shooting for the 'ishq sufiana' number at Bidar fort. Did you encounter any such experience?

No, I didn't go to any outskirts of Hyderabad to shoot, that was only Vidya and Emraan. I was mostly in Ramoji Rao Studio and there, there was no situation like this because it was a very controlled environment.

Are you sharing screen space with Naseeruddin Shah? What acting inputs have you picked up from the veteran?

Not too many, but yes a couple of scenes. It was pleasurable working with him. He is a natural actor. He is like a cool youngster on the sets. He doesn't have any airs about being a very very experienced actor and a superb star. He comes to the sets like a normal person I think even that comes with experience. You can't learn much from him, because it will take you that many years to learn all that he has learnt and mastered. So you can just admire him and his talent.

'Silk Smitha's brother has sent a legal notice to the makers of the film, as he claims that permission wasn't taken to film 'Silk's biopic. What action is the team taking against it?

They can't really do anything about it because we are not basing the film on any one's life. It is based on the life of a star who could be like one of the sexy stars of that era, but it is not based on any one particular individual's life.

Describe your working experience with Milan Luthria. And do you think it's easier to work under family banner or that doesn't make much of a difference to an actor?

It's the same thing, I think. An actor has to go through the same processes to portray his character, has to understand the situation, the depth of the character, the personality of the character and portray that in front of the camera. So whether it's your home production or an outside film, there are the same insecurities, same efforts, same rehearsals and the same problems happen, so it's the same. Talking about Milan, he is a thorough gentleman. In comparison to other directors, he is much more organised, more gentle, more classy and is easy on his actors and therefore the performances are more freer.

Do you think 'The Dirty Picture' is a family entertainer?

Yes I think you can call it that, the characters in this film are as dirty and as clean as any normal person would be. It is just that it's based on the life of a porn star, so obviously there will be references to a career in making sexy movies. Ideally it's her emotional journey, so you'll be involved in it. You'll be involved in the characters and those things that would seem dirty to you, because the title says it's 'The Dirty Picture,' . But that will become very very incidental when you watch the film. All that will take a back seat, so you are more with 'Silk's character.

Do you think it is one of the most difficult roles you have essayed until now?

One of the most difficult roles, one of the most challenging roles, because this a new world, a new genre for me and this character is a little too complex. One who goes through his ups and downs and it's a colourful character. I won't say it's the most challenging role, but definitely one of them.

So which has been the most challenging one, till date?

I think the first part of 'Golmaal' was very challenging, because I had done that character for the very first time. Then 'Shootout At Lokhandwala' was also challenging, as I was doing an 'action' flick for the first time. My first film was very challenging, because it was my first film. So anything you do for the first time becomes challenging and slowly you get a hang of it and then you start getting better and better at it.

'The Dirty Picture' is being touted as India's answer to the 'Boogie Nights'. Do you agree?

Yes, you can say that. But 'Boogie Nights' was really really another extreme of that all together, I don't think our film has gone that far.

Vijayalakshmi became 'Silk Smitha', if Tusshar had to take an on-screen name, what would it be and why?

Well I think because my character's name is Ramakant in the film and if it has to be South Indian like Vijyalakshmi, then I think Ramakant is fine.

What genre of films do you find most difficult to do, comedy, action or romantic?

All three have their own challenges, all three have their own good and bad points, but they are all enjoyable in their own way. It depends on who you are working with, the kind of people you are working with. If you get along with them, the work becomes easier whichever genre you think you fit into. What matters the most is the energy you get with the people around you.

You have made a mark in comedy, do you find other genres more difficult than comedy?

No, I found comedy also difficult when I started doing it. So anything new becomes a little difficult at first but later you start enjoying it more. It was difficult for me to do comedy in the beginning, but then I opened up more and soon it became a part of me. I enjoy all the genres equally but it's just that sometimes when you start something for the first time then it takes sometime to get used to it. People have liked me more in comedy because of that character in 'Golmaal'. But from my side I have enjoyed doing it as much as I enjoyed doing 'Shootout at Lokhandwala' or 'The Dirty Picture'.

While selecting a film what is the most important thing for you… the script, director or the production house? And do you take anyone's advice before signing a film?

I think it's the script which is most important, and then of course, the combination of the director and producer, the entire set-up makes a lot of difference. I don't take anyone's advice anymore, because no one other than you can know what works best for you. So I take a call myself. I don't rely on anyone else's opinion, but I just hear everybody out and then decide for myself.

What is the progress on your production house, as of now?

I haven't found the right director with whom I can really make a film with, so I am waiting for the right director. Then, of course, comes the right script or vice-versa. And only then probably I can start my own production house. Until then I am busy with my acting assignments, so that has to wait.

Tell us something about your future projects?

I have just completed filming 'Chaar Din Ki Chandni' then there is 'Kyaa Super Kool Hai Hum' and then there is another film with Neeraj Pathak, which we'll start filming, early next year.