‘It was not easy to play this particular role’ – Anupam Kher

Says the suave actor on playing the Commissioner of Police in ‘Wednesday’ & sharing the screen with Naseeruddin Shah after 19 years.

Q: What excited you to do ‘Wednesday’?
A: When I started reading the script I just couldn't put it down, after reading it., I realized that it was completely unusual… unusual in true sense. I knew that the script was coming from a person who knows what he is offering. If I look back at my career, I realize that I have done almost all kind roles, of every genre, but this role was some thing I thought was different from all.

Q: You have been in the industry since many years, how was it working with a first time director? What you have to say about Neeraj Pandey?
A: Well, it was fabulous working with him. After being in the industry for so long, I am making my roles become tougher for myself, I did Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Mara… and now Wednesday. I put this film in the same slot as far as acting goes. I am trying more and more to work with newcomers. When Neeraj approached me with the role, there was certain arrogance in him and I loved that arrogance. I play the role of Mumbai Police commissioner in the film, when I asked Neeraj of why he thought of casting me for the role, he said that because he finds me cocky and relaxed, and this was the attitude of Neeraj, which I actually liked. He is a very quite person and knows what he is offering and what he wants in return.

Q: How it feels to share the screen with Naseeruddin Shah after 19 years?
A: It was great working with him; we worked together in few films like Pastonji, Misaal, Tridev…. When I signed the film, I was unaware of the rest of the cast, so when I came to know that Naseerji is also a part of the film, I was really thrilled and was looking forward to work with him.

Q:  Is your character in the film is modeled around the commissioner of Mumbai police?              
If yes, then did you meet him personally to get a better insight for the role?
A: Well yes, my role is kind of modeled around the commissioner of Mumbai police. I met Rakesh Maria and Javed Ahmed for research of my role… When I interacted with Javed Ahmed, he was anti terrorism squad head. We met over dinner, I narrated the story to him and he just loved it. I observed them carefully; I tried to imbibe the calmness in my character.

Q: So have you actually shot at the police head quarters?
A: Yes, we have shot extensively at the Mumbai police head quarters so that the authenticity remains.

Q:  How difficult or easy was it for you to play the character?
A: Though I have been acting since past so many years, I wont lie in saying that it was not easy to play this particular role, in fact the most difficult part of it was to constantly be that person, it was no casual acting… it was difficult.

Q: Apart from interacting with the police commissioners, was their any other reference, which you took for the character?
A: Actually yes, I tried watching few films, which I thought on the similar lines like…Day of the Jackal… but all these things just confused me more and more, so finally I decided to be my own reference point.