'In Sholay, my fingers are cut off, not hands'

Mohanlal was a school student when Ramesh Sippy's Sholay was released in 1975, and like most of the kids at the time, he too was fascinated by it. Little did he realise then that 32 years later, he would be a part of its remake.

In this exclusive interview, Mohanlal talks about the experience of acting in Ram Gopal Varma's version of the film called Ram Gopal Varma Ke Aag, in the role immortalised by Sanjeev Kumar.

Was there any difference in the image that you had of Sholay, the character Sanjeev Kumar portrayed, and the character you enacted in the remake?

I did not think of the original when I was acting in the film. I didn't have any plans in my mind. I don't prepare for my characters. 

This is the first time you are playing a role previously portrayed by another actor.

Thirty two years is a long time. One does not remember the minute details in Sholay. Moreover, the backdrop is different. Here, the Mumbai underworld forms the background. That itself changes your costumes and the way you behave.

As this film has taken only the basic structure from the original, you cannot compare the characters of this film to those of Sholay. The name of the character I portray is Narasimha, and I am not doing it the way Sanjeev Kumar did. I have enacted the role of Narasimha the way I can. Like the name suggests, he is a South Indian with a wife and family.

What does Narasimha do in Mumbai?

He is an encounter specialist. At one point, he catches Gabbar Singh (played by Amitabh Bachchan). And unlike in Sholay, there are many reasons why Gabbar Singh is vengeful. I feel this film answers all the questions that we might have had when we saw Sholay. The loopholes in the story are plugged in this film.

Many films are remade in the world, and this is another filmmaker's attempt to remake a film that is considered as the Bible of Indian films. The main story of Sholay was the rivalry between Gabbar Singh and Thakur. Similarly, this film also essays the rivalry between Gabbar Singh and Narasimha.

Like in Sholay, did Gabbar Singh chop off your hands too?

Not hands, only fingers. You see, Narasimha is an encounter specialist and without his fingers, he is useless as he cannot fire his weapon. This film is more crude and violent. Gabbar Singh is like a psychopath here.

For an actor who uses his hands a lot while acting, how was it portraying such a character? Did you have to control yourself a lot?

Yes. I use my hands a lot while acting. I think most of us use our hands even in our conversation. But in this film, I consciously avoided using my hands. Yes, I had to control myself.

As an actor, did it restrict you?

No, no. I know the character does not have fingers. So my mind prepares itself for that. Once I am aware that Narasimha does not have fingers, my body language changes. The way he reacts and moves becomes very different from what I do normally.

This man drinks coffee using his hands. He manages it by keeping the coffee mug close to his palm. He manages many things on his own. Actually, I do not have to use my hands much in the film. Most of the scenes are quite emotional where expressions are more important.

You are reluctant to accept projects from other languages. What made you accept this?

When someone asks you to do a role immortalised by Sanjeev Kumar, do you think any actor will say no? As an actor, I consider it my good fortune that I got such an offer. I have no idea how the film will come out or how the audience will react. I was only concerned about my role.

To me, only the filmmaker and the role matters. It is like me loving someone and that someone else denying my love. You may not like it but you can't deny my love.

Similarly, you can't deny Ram Gopal Varma's right to make a film when he is ready to face the criticism. And whatever it may be, everybody is eager to watch his Sholay. Nobody can deny that.

Was shooting for the film an interesting experience for you?

My first shot was Amitabh Bachchan chopping my fingers off. I had to scream and I lost my voice the next day because of that.

I want to tell you something. I have done films with the legends like Prem Nazir, Sivaji Ganesan, Nageswara Rao, and now, Amitabh Bachchan. I was very close to Raj Kumar too, and he used to watch my films closely, and had a lot of love and affection for me. Had he been alive today, I might have done a film with him.

You didn't have to struggle for anything in life. From your debut film to superstardom, everything came to you on a platter. Do you consider yourself lucky in life?

I never ever aspired for anything in life. I don't believe in planning or yearning for something very strongly. If something has to happen, it will happen. I never wished that Ram Gopal Varma should make Sholay one day, and that I should get Sanjeev Kumar's role. I don't like to use words to describe the happenings in life. It's not luck, it's not destiny...

After acting in films like Vaanaprastham and Vaasthuhara, why do you act in silly commercial films? After Thanmatra, you haven't done a single memorable role this year.

I have done a film called Paradesi in which I play an 80-year old man who doesn't belong anywhere. I have also done a film called Aakasa Gopuram based on a play by Ibsen (Master Builder). Yes, as an actor, I have to do these kinds of films but not always.

After nearly 30 years in the film industry, do you have to act in films where your characters are not well etched?

So what if I do? I have done good films and memorable roles earlier. Does that mean I can act only in such films? What's wrong in acting in commercial films? You can't say that I should act only in films like Thanmatra. It is not possible.

It's not that. The kind of commercial films you used to act in the late 1980s and 1990s were meaningful.

Only when you see silly commercial films, you will appreciate films like Thanmatra more. (laughs).

Does acting in less sensible films excite you?

As an actor, I should act in all kinds of films and enact all kinds of roles. Every film has something good about it. How can you say a film is not good when many people see it and the film becomes a hit?

See, we are doing films for the masses. Only once in a while can you do films that are appreciated by just a 100 people in a theatre.

To the question as to why I am acting in commercial films, my answer is popularity. I do other kinds of films also which you can watch. Let others watch the rest of my films. Along with films like Paradesi and Akashagopuramn, I have to do films like Hallo, Chotta Mumbai and Ali Bhai also. What is wrong in that? I feel as an actor, I am blessed to be acting in all kinds of films.

Do you enjoy doing films like Hallo and Chotta Mumbai?

Definitely. Otherwise, I wouldn't be acting in them.