Versatile actor Atul Kulkarni who had played memorable characters in his long movie career beginning with the role of cold-blooded fundamentalist stalking the cities during the turbulent years of Partition in Hey Ram , the gangster in Chandni Bar , the idealist scribe in Page 3 and the shemale character in Marathi movie Natarangamong others talks to Orissa POST.The Rang De Basanti actor is in the city for the shooting of his bi-lingual movie Patnagarh. Excerpts:
Arindam Ganguly, OP
Q Before being offered this role have you heard of the Patnagarh postal bomb blast? Have you done any research about the role before shooting?
A My friend and co-actor Manoj Mishra told me about it. The character is based on some real person, but I was focused on the script and the director’s vision. The movie is made based on the blast but we tried to tell it differently as scripted by the writer. We are not trying to copy the incident.
Q You have been part of movies based on real incidents. Is that more challenging than the fictional movies?
A The movie is based on a real-life incident. But it is different from the normal fictional movies. Here, you need a strong script and have to understand the director’s vision. In such a movie the characters you play are real-life characters and replicate the role is next to impossible. It may not be interesting. So, it is best not to portray a real character as it is important to portray the character in a more realistic way. The movie based on the real-life incident will be a very different medium from the normal fictional movies.
Q You have played multiple roles in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu films. Will it help you in any other way?
A Working in various language films gives you the exposure to various cultures and enriches your experience. You have to understand the spirit of the character which makes your work easier. Do you have any favourite roles you have acquitted so far? It’s not easy to rate every role. Every role is special in its own way and has its own challenges. I am very lucky to get so many magnificent roles because of the faith the directors reposed on me.
Q In your long career you might have seen major changes happening in the industry?
A Many people think, I had worked in films for twenty years but I had completed eighteen years.
In my long years, I have seen a lot of changes have taken places. The growth of digital technology has helped the filmmaking industry. Now, anyone can make a film using a mobile phone. In terms of content, the Hindi film industry has developed in a big way. Some people have tried to condemn the industry saying that it is producing bad movies compared to the regional movies. But I differ on that count. We have to understand that Hindi film industry has a greater reach than the regional films. Hindi film industry produces expensive movies and markets them across the world. We tend to forget that aspect and bashing it for the sake of criticism is wrong.
Q Nowadays, the web series is catching up. What do you say about it?
A Web series is trending now. I can’t predict the future, but it is currently doing well and offering great roles to actors. Your recent advertisement for a car company became very popular on social media.
Q How do you find the story told through advertisements?
The digitised advertisement on TVs is different in terms of timing of showing ads and cost. On the digital platform, you can tell a short story through advertisements which you can’t do through normal TV ads.
Q Your upcoming movies…
A I have Manikarnika staring Kangana Ranaut, Sonu Sood and Junglee with Vidyut Jammwal.
Q How do you view Odia industry at this juncture?
A I think Patnagarh will be an iconic film which will change the face of Odia industry. In every industry, there is always a movie that brings a revolutionary change. In Marathi, it was Shwaas which is acknowledged as a “significant turning point” for Marathi cinema which until then was going through a low patch. It will change the perception and business of the industry.
Q About Odisha?
I have not toured the state extensively. The state reminds me of my native state Karnataka which is rich in natural resources like Odisha. It is also rich in terms of its classical arts and architecture.