July 13, 2018
Actor Jimmy Sheirgill, who will soon be seen in "Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3",
says he is inclined towards playing difficult and challenging characters
on-screen.
"I am always interested in characters that are much layered
and difficult to play. So even though someone comes to me with the main lead, it
has happened in the past that I opted for a smaller role in that same film
because as an actor, I can contribute more to make that part interesting," Jimmy
told IANS.
The actor is known for his work in films like "Mohabbatein",
"Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.", "Bas Ek Pal", "Mukkabaaz", "Tanu Weds Manu" and "Special
26".
Having started his career in 1996 with "Maachis", he has worked with
filmmakers like Gulzar, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Aditya Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani
among many others.
What are the things he learnt from them?
"I
learnt from Aanand L. Rai how to go out of my comfort zone. I usually act very
subtly, but in 'Tanu Weds Manu' he pushed me to go loud in a few scenes of my
character. I think that has given me a certain confidence to try things
differently," said the actor.
Gulzar taught him the importance of
continuing to work.
"Gulzar saab said that never make the success or
failure of a film as your destiny. Every film has its own destiny and as an
actor, my job is to give my best without thinking about hit or flop... Because
if the film works, I will party and go to work the next day.
"If the film
fails, even then I have to work to continue my journey. So working continuously
is more important than anything else," Jimmy said.
On working with
Dhulia, who has directed "Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3" -- releasing on July 27 --
he said: "One day, Tigmanshu told a junior actor, 'We work hard to write these
lines, dialogues... Don't just blabber it, own them to say them'. It just got
stuck in my head and every time I read my lines, I always try to make it my own
so that it doesn't sound like written by someone."
Born as Jasjit Singh
Gill, the actor shared the story behind his name Jimmy.
"That's actually
my nickname. During the shooting of my first film, because people on the film
set used to call me Jimmy, in media interviews journalists also started writing
that name. Though my name in 'Maachis' is credited as Jasjit Singh Gill.
"From 'Mohabbatein' in fact, Adi (Aditya Chopra) suggested that I should keep
the name Jimmy to avoid confusion and I was totally okay with it."
The
actor maintains a balance between Hindi and Punjabi cinema. He is fascinated to
observe how the Punjabi film industry, where nothing more than comedy used to
make business in the mainstream, is venturing out in different genres
successfully.
"I think some of the new filmmakers are really making a
difference. Whether it is films like 'Dharti', 'Shareek' and 'Daana Paani',
things are changing and I am happy about it. There have always been films that
we called 'arthouse' cinema. The difference between these two was very visible
in our Punjabi films.
"With 'Daana Paani' staying in the theatre for more
than three weeks, earning money is a sign of how the new-age filmmakers are
finding the ground of art and commerce in Punjabi cinema," said Jimmy.