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FILM INTERVIEW: SHARMAN JOSHI

Former ‘3 Idiots’ Star says ‘Ferrari ki Sawaari’ Changes his Standing in Bollywood

By: Simran Mody
June 11, 2012

Three films hit Bollywood movie theaters this weekend, with former 3 Idiots co-star Sharman Joshi carrying one of them all on his own for the first time in his career. In fact, Mr. Joshi believes Ferrari ki Sawaari will establish himself as a worthy leading man capable of becoming a box office draw without having another star by his side, the next natural step in a career that started in 1999 and reached new heights when starring alongside Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and R. Madhavan a decade later. Directed by Rajesh Mapuskar, produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and starring Boman Irani, Nilesh Divekar, and Vidya Balan in an item number, Ferrari ki Sawaari is Mr. Joshi’s seventeenth film. He hopes the next 17 will feature him as one of Bollywood’s go-to men.

 
Sharman Joshi on BuzzineBollywood.comMr. Joshi, who is slated to star in the romantic comedy Chithiyaan, spoke with the press about his starring role in Ferrari ki Sawaari, which opens on June 15.
 
Simran Mody: You’re finally carrying a film on your own. How will Ferrari ki Sawaari positively impact your career?
 
Sharman Joshi: I think this film will change my standing in the industry for sure, no questions about that. And it will happen because the film is good. I think I will benefit out of it. It is going to be loved and appreciated and the numbers (box office collections) will do the talking. And when the numbers do the talking it will give me some commercial standing, which will be stronger than what I am today.
 
SM: There was once a time when many Bollywood actors would star in several films within a calendar year. Now many actors, including yourself, are rather picky and selective in the roles you accept. Explain to us your selection process?
 
SJ: Quality films and great cinema is what I believe in. Numbers will then reflect. I don't want to be part of films which are designed to appeal at the box office first. It should be like they are designed to be great films and they happen to work at box office.
 
SM: You are playing a father in this film. Will people be skeptical of you playing a father despite your young age?
 
SJ: We all were initially skeptical whether I will be able to pull of the father’s part. Rajesh was still not sure because of which we had 30 to 40 auditions for a couple of month. We worked on various looks, emotional quotient of the character. It was after this that I was granted the role. There was a time gap of six months before the movie went on floors so during which we had several workshops. We have worked intensely on the script and once we started shooting everything fell into place.
 
SM: What about people’s perception of your work? Are you worried of being typecast as a comedic actor?
 
SJ: I have never thought that I have to break free from any tag given to me because I understand that it is derived from the kind of work I do. At the end of the day it is in my hand to change that perception. I know as an actor I want to do every kind of role and experiment with myself, but I am in no rush. I am here for long.