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Arshad Warsi believes he has been fortunate to have dabbled in multiple genres. While his role as Circuit in Munnabhai M.B.B.S. remains fresh in public memory even now, he has sort of reinvented himself as a serious actor in the hit OTT series Asur. The series was hailed for its unique story, which mixed a proper police procedural with mythology. He has gained a new set of admirers through his role in the series, that of Dhananjay Rajpoot, a sleuth struggling with his past. It’s his most sombre role yet, and season 2 of the series has been hailed as being even better than its predecessor. But Arshad hasn’t said goodbye to comedy. He will also be seen in Welcome 3 and in Jolly LLB 3, where his comedic genius is sure to take precedence. He’s currently enjoying this phase of being the flavour of the season again and hopes that the good run continues for a long, long time. Excerpts from an interview where he shares both his euphoria and his sense of humour.
How much do you miss being Circuit from the Munnabhai series?Circuit is not my favourite character; it is everyone else’s favourite character. My favourite character is Babban from Ishqiya. He is a very uncouth character. I like Circuit, but given a choice, I would like to play Babban as an actor. I would love to play Circuit for my fans, of course.
Are there moments when Sanjay Dutt and you sit and recall those days of working on Munnabhai MBBS?
We talk about it all the time. It is a cult favourite. When Sanju and I come together, something strange happens. Some weird chemistry makes us push the envelope. Even if we are not playing Munna and Circuit. That is because of Raju Sir; he has just made these characters who have settled in people’s hearts. So every time people see us, they just feel warm and nice.
You’ve been stereotyped as a comic actor and then something like Asur comes in, which changes the whole paradigm.
It is easier to compartmentalise people; it makes our lives easier. There are people who do comedy; there are others who do serious work; these are the ones who do drama, then romance and then action. So making yourself available in all the boxes is tough. Few actors have managed to do that. Fortunately, you can rely on me for comedy, serious drama, or anything else. It is a nice place to be. Kabeer Kaushik took me to Sehar, and Shashanka Ghosh took me to Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part Two, which was a satirical comedy and a serious film. Sehar was also serious and there’s one more that is going to come out very soon, on another crazy level.
It is insane.
It’s rare to find season 2 of a series surpassing season 1, and Asur has done that. What do you have to say about that?
I wanted the show to go a certain way. I was aiming for season 1 to be a certain way and season 2 has to be 10 times multiplied by that. The thrill, conspiracy theory and unpredictability have to reach another level. So in my head, I was aiming for that. Every time I would hear a version, I would be like, ‘I know this is going to happen now, and that will happen now.’ It has to be more unpredictable. It has to be crazier. We did what we could. You do your best and hope the audience likes it and they did, so I am happy.
Your character, Dhananjay, in Asur, is totally unpredictable.
I loved that. In thrillers, it is so much fun. Like right now, I am going through a script, and it is so much that, as a character, you are thinking something and as an audience, you are trying to figure out what it is. Fans were
so involved that they all came up with their theories. The fun part is that this character is one of the rare ones who is right and wrong at the same time. It’s complex and I love the madness.
Did you like your character’s evolution in the series from Season 1 to Season 2?
Oh yes, I think the beauty is that there is growth, madness and a certain edginess, which in a sense is the best aspect of the character. If they make Season 3, it can be exploited further Because right now, he is one guy who is not all black or all white. He is just well-balanced. So yes, from Season 1 to Season 2, it has evolved and has the scope to shock people.
The series combines technology and mythology. It must be challenging to play such a role.
Funnily, I didn’t have the dates for Asur. Tanveer, who was the producer then, wanted me to hear it. I am not kidding. When I heard the narration, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I gave up a big show and a lot of money for this. I enjoyed doing it. Apart from the excitement of the show, I liked the script, how it happened and all the chaotic things that were happening. What I truly liked was the merging of mythology and science. Nobody realises, but when you talk about mythology and science, India is number one. Some of the brainiest people in the highest positions are Indians. These are two fields that we are familiar with and good at. Now that you have put them together, it is exciting. It is hard to do but exciting and these people pulled it off.
Would you say the response to your web show is the best that you have received?
I have gotten plenty of good responses for various works that I have done. It’s hard to say just one thing. But in most of the work I have done, people have loved the film or the series. I’ll tell you a story. I met a lady and she just thanked me. I said you’re welcome, but I have no idea why you are thanking me. And she said that I helped her deliver her baby and I was like, ‘What are you saying?’ So she said that she was pregnant, and her delivery date kept being postponed. And then she watched Munnabhai and she laughed so much that she delivered the baby that day. It has had a certain impact on me. That is one crazy memory I have. Touchwood.
Tell us we are getting Asur 3 soon.
I hope so. Like I said, it is not easy to write this show. To beat season 2, they have to work really hard. So until they have a good script, there’s no point.
You have sequels to Dhamaal and Golmaal lined up, which are all cult favourites; how does it feel to be one of those characters that has to be retained?
I love it. Because they trust the character. This guy will make me laugh. What has happened in the last couple of years is that I have suddenly, somehow, gotten into serious cinema. I mean, a couple of things that are going to be released are so serious. Maybe because OTT mostly has this kind of stuff. It’s all about cops, gangsters and murderers; that is what is happening. The other day I did a photoshoot kind of thing for Welcome 3 with Akshay, Sanjay, and me. It is going to be insane.
How do you do a comedy like Welcome 3 with someone like Akshay Kumar?
There is Akshay, Johnny Lever, Ahmed, who is directing it, Faraaz, who is writing it and there’s me. All the mad people are there. Sanju also has the potential to go mad. It is fun, but it will be a mad trip.
You’re also doing Jolly LLB 3 with Akshay?
I’ll tell you, when I do a serious film, before and after the cut, I am just cracking up. I am either pulling someone’s leg or I am cracking a joke and we are all laughing. Then cut to action; I am very serious. It was all fun. I would give Akshay a line, then he would make a comeback and vice versa.
What does an off day in Arshad Warsi’s life look like?
When I am not working, I like to sit and do nothing. I like going to Goa; I drive. I like to hang with my kids; they don’t hang with me, of course. So when I am not working, the thing that rejuvenates me is being in the company of my wife and my kids. Whatever little time I get with them. They are all everywhere. I get to see them once every two days, but that’s good enough.
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