I still can't say that I'm part of the industry: Arshad Warsi

Actor has been in the industry for nearly three decades

Arshad Warsi, known for his memorable characters in films like the Munna Bhai series and Jolly LLB, recently expressed his belief that he feels like an outsider in the industry. Despite being a part of Bollywood for nearly 27 years, the star spoke about setbacks that made him start from scratch. 

As reported by Hindustan Times, the actor who debuted in 1996 with Tere Mere Sapne spoke about "waiting" being a vital aspect of creating a reputation as a diverse artist. Warsi stated to PTI in a virtual interview, "It's tough, especially for guys like me who are not from the industry. Sadly, I've been here for almost 27 years, and I still can't say that I'm part of the industry. Every time I give a flop, I've to take a long climb to get back to where I was."

The actor also highlighted how his "inherently lovable" personality shines through his on-screen characters, making them more interesting. He added, "I think I'm inherently lovable, and that part of me comes in whatever I do. It can be a cop, goon, or anything. I want people to appreciate my work, whether it's positive or negative."

Speaking further, Warsi said, "If they love the character, no matter what it does, it is appreciated. If they do not like it, it's null and void. I've been fortunate enough that there isn't anyone who hasn't liked my work. When a film or series works, that's a cherry on the cake. There is no better feeling than that." 

The actor recently returned as forensic expert Dhananjay Rajput in the second season of the psychological thriller web series Asur. He expressed his love for the character and enjoyed working on both seasons. Warsi spoke about feeling he has managed to navigate the box that successful characters can sometimes put actors in. He stated, "Usually, actors are divided in terms of genre -- action, comedy, romance. Very few manage to fit in all of them. I would like to believe I'm one of those."

While he acknowledged that being typecast as a comedy actor was a challenge, Warsi also expressed his gratitude to directors who had faith in him and cast him in different roles. He also mentioned that waiting for opportunities and dealing with failures are integral parts of building credibility as a versatile performer. "I credit the storytellers, the directors who imagined me in a (different) role and had faith in me," stated Warsi. "When Kabir Kaushik asked me to do Seher, I asked him if he was sure. I had an image of a comedy actor. Subhash [Kapoor] was sure about me playing Jolly. I'm grateful to them for taking a chance with me and I'm happy I could live up to their expectations." 

Reflecting on his acting journey, Warsi credited working with veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah in Ishqiya for boosting his self-belief. He said, "Till the time I did Ishqiya, I used to think I was a fluke. I didn't understand why people like me or enjoy my character... But when we finished Ishqiya and I gave a hug to Naseer sahab. He told me, 'Arshad you're a fantastic actor and after many years I was on my toes'. He praised me a lot. And I was like, if he is saying I'm a better actor, then I must be."

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