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India Today
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Paresh Rawal might be comedy king, but let's discuss when he was villain supreme
Call him a comedy king, a versatile actor, a revelation in Hindi cinema or a fantastic theatre artiste, but Paresh Rawal is more than any label that defines his career or calibre. For a generation, though, he remained a brilliant artiste who brought alive several comedy roles - including the much-hyped, and discussed these days - Baburao Ganpatrao Apte from 'Hera Pheri'. Even though nothing made him more popular and celebrated than his comedy roles - you name a funny Hindi film, and you'll find him there - a fair portion of resume is also dedicated to negative the 1980s and early 1990s, Bollywood featured an array of over-the-top villains - men with loud voices, flashy clothes, and dramatic dialogue. But, Rawal stood out because he played the part as subtly as possible - never screaming at the top of his voice, and always maintaining an intensity in his role. His brand of villainy was subdued, psychological, and, at times, frighteningly real. He didn't just act evil, he brought the evil alive - making the characters look like they actually existed. Again, a huge nod to his acting prowess. His roles in films like 'King Uncle' (1993), 'Sir' (1993), 'Kabzaa' (1988), and 'Baazi' (1995) stand as a testimony to the 'King Uncle', for instance. It was a family film with moral lessons and emotional moments. But, hidden in its sweet story was Tikku – a cruel and greedy orphanage caretaker, played by Rawal. The actor didn't act like the usual loud and over-the-top villain. There was no comedy or any change of heart. Just pure, realistic evil. His character showed us that villains don't always look scary. Sometimes, they wear regular clothes and hold power in everyday places. Tikku was scary because he felt too eerie, too strange and, at the same, every inch possible. Rawal made discomfort feel close to Then came 'Sir' in the same year, where Rawal played Veljibhai Patel, a gangster. He was not the typical kind of gangster we usually see in Hindi cinema. Veljibhai was stuck between a gang war and his daughter's wish to live her own life. No, Veljibhai was an immensely layered character. He exuded both violence and genius skills at acting made Veljibhai feel deep and real, almost like he's speaking to you - sitting right next to you, or sometimes, even by looking into your eyes. As Velji, Rawal did what most actors can't - manage to not make it look artificial or boring. He offered more vulnerability, and also remained careful of not making you feel sorry for him. You understand where Velji came from. You know him better at the end of the film, because Rawal brilliantly emoted the sensitivity and sensibility of the character - a rare trait to spot in negative roles back go back a few years and discuss another Veljibhai of Bollywood. In 'Kabzaa' (1988), one of Rawal's early films as a villain, he played Veljibhai Soda, a ruthless land-grabber. Now, this was a formulaic villain. How Rawal played it made all the difference. Veljibhai represented the corrupt system - working like a machine, quietly and steadily crushing anyone who stood in his way. His traits included everything that made a villain look hungry for power, and, of course, more wealth. Rawal's fuming expressions, greed in his eyes and the simplistic manner of lying to people to encroach upon their land made the character look not just interesting, but also overpowering. You could see the cunning real Velji behind the mask of kindness that he put in front of the people - and you were entertained by that. It was a perfect villain for a perfect commercial Bollywood entertainer, and you always, always knew that Rawal's screen presence guaranteed more there was 'Baazi' (1995), Paresh Rawal played Deputy Chief Minister Chaturvedi, who at first seems like an honest and respectable leader. However later, it's revealed that he is actually Chaubey, the main villain behind all the crime and a planned assassination. Rawal perfectly shows both sides of the character, a good-natured politician on the outside and a dangerous criminal from within. It was a complex character that needed strong acting, and Rawal delivered it acting brilliance sets him apart. We are not the first ones to say it. But, those who have any doubt can always go back to watching the films in which he proved thoroughly entertaining as a villain. The actor, who's 70 today, has got a legacy that's difficult to not only match, but to also keep track of. He could be everyone's favourite Teja (from Andaz Apna Apna), or Gundya (from Chup Chup Ke), but all of his comedy can't take away from the villainy he did over the years in cinema. He represented power and violence, and not just on the surface but deep within our hearts and minds. His characters were warnings, studies, and sometimes, even reflections on what had been happening in didn't need to stand on our heads with guns and swanky cars to prove he meant business. He was just there, existing, playing a baddie who would take the dread into our drawing rooms. He made us feel fear. And that true acting Reel
News18
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Aamir Khan Didn't Bathe For A Week During Ghulam Shoot: 'To Maintain The Same Look...'
Last Updated: Aamir Khan confirmed he went 12 days without bathing twice for his roles in Raakh and Ghulam to stay true to his characters. Aamir Khan really takes method acting to the next level! The Bollywood star reportedly went 12 whole days without a bath — not once, but twice — while preparing for his roles in Raakh and Ghulam. In a recent chat with ABP Live, Aamir confirmed the long-standing rumour, saying he skipped bathing during the shoot to stay true to his gritty, street-dwelling characters. For Raakh, he explained, the decision was intentional: his character had run away from home and was living on the streets, so he wanted to physically reflect that raw, unpolished look. Aamir said, 'I've done this not once, but twice. During the filming of Raakh, I didn't bathe because my character lives on the streets after leaving home. I wanted it to feel real, so I avoided bathing to look like someone who's actually ended up on the road." Speaking of Ghulam, he said, 'In Ghulam, there was a long action sequence in the climax where I get badly beaten up. Gradually, my injuries started increasing. If I had bathed every day after shooting, it would have ruined the continuity. So I decided not to bathe for a week to maintain the same look and feel for the scene. Because when you bathe the next day, you end up looking fresh—which I didn't want." Ghulam (1998) is an action film directed by Vikram Bhatt and stars Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji. Its story is said to be similar to Sanjay Dutt's 1988 film Kabzaa. Raakh (1989) is an action-crime movie directed by Aditya Bhattacharya. Along with Aamir Khan, the film also features Supriya Pathak, Pankaj Kapur, Gajanan Bangera, and Jagdeep. Meanwhile, Aamir Khan is all set to return to the big screen with Sitaare Zameen Par, a sequel to his 2007 hit Taare Zameen Par. The upcoming project features Genelia Deshmukh in the lead opposite Aamir. Directed by RS Prasanna, the film is produced by Aamir himself along with Aparna Purohit. First Published: May 07, 2025, 08:04 IST
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Aamir Khan reveals he didn't shower for over a week for Ghulam, Raakh: If I had bathed every day, it would have ruined…
Actor Aamir Khan has revealed how he prepared for his roles in Ghulam and Raakh by not bathing for 12 days. Speaking with ABP Live, Aamir was asked if the rumour that he didn't take a bath for those days while shooting for the films was true. (Also Read | Sitaare Zameen Par poster: Aamir Khan teases story about special people and fans are 'ready to sob'; film out next month) Aamir Khan in stills from Ghulam and Raakh. Aamir shared that he did it during the shooting for both films. The actor said, "I've done this not once, but twice. During the filming of Raakh, I didn't bathe because my character lives on the streets after leaving home. I wanted it to feel real, so I avoided bathing to look like someone who's actually ended up on the road." Talking about his thoughts while filming Ghulam, Aamir added, "In Ghulam, there was a long action sequence in the climax where I get badly beaten up. Gradually, my injuries started increasing. If I had bathed every day after shooting, it would have ruined the continuity. So I decided not to bathe for a week to maintain the same look and feel for the scene. Because when you bathe the next day, you end up looking fresh—which I didn't want." About Ghulam, Raakh Ghulam (1998) is an action film, directed by Vikram Bhatt. It also stars Rani Mukerji in the lead role. The film's storyline is similar to Sanjay Dutt's Kabzaa (1988). Raakh (1989), an action crime, was directed by Aditya Bhattacharya. It also starred Supriya Pathak, Pankaj Kapur, Gajanan Bangera and Jagdeep. The film received much critical acclaim and also three National Film Awards. Aamir's next film Fans will see Aamir next in Sitaare Zameen Par. Described as a "spiritual sequel" to the 2007-hit Taare Zameen Par, the film marks his return to the big screen after a long break. The upcoming film stars Genelia Deshmukh opposite Aamir. Directed by RS Prasanna, the film is produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit. The screenplay is written by Divy Nidhi Sharma. The film will introduce fresh faces -- Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar. The movie is set to hit theatres on June 20.
