4 minutes agoAuthor: Virendra Mishra
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The film ‘Dhurandhar’ created a stir at the box office. Won the hearts of the audience with brilliant casting, real characters and explosive dialogues. Crowds gathered in theatres, critics praised it. Every character of this film is being praised a lot, whether big or small.
Actor Ankit Sagar, who played the role of Javed Khanani in the film, told Dainik Bhaskar that like Sholay, every character of ‘Dhurandhar’ is a hit. He also said that he is getting abuses for the character of Javed Khanani, but he considers it as a compliment.
Question: How did you get the opportunity to work in the film ‘Dhurandhar’?
answer: My casting for this film was done by Mukesh Chhabra. Earlier, Mukesh Mukesh Chhabra had casted me for the film ‘Chamkila’. The advantage of that film was that I was called for the look test for Dhurandhar. The dialogues given to me in the audition were not of Javed Khanani, but of some other character who is in Dhurandhar.
At that time I was not told who was making the film. There is a protocol like this in the beginning.
Question: Then when did you know that Aditya Dhar was going to direct this film?
answer: I found the dialogues read during the audition very interesting, so I too was interested. Otherwise a few months would pass and the matter would not move forward. Then a call came from Chhabra Saheb’s office saying they wanted to meet once more. When I went, he talked about variations of some scenes and a small dialogue. Liked that. Then he said, now meet Aditya Dhar.
I went to his office. Aditya Dhar looked very good and like a hero. He asked my background. Saw the movie Chamkila. There was also discussion on theatre, he too is from theater background from Delhi. I told that I am his senior. I have been doing theater since the age of 19.
Question: Tell us about which set of ‘Dhurandhar’ you associated with and some special memories.
answer: ‘Joining the sets of ‘Dhurandhar’ was memorable. Director Dhar Saheb has already told that this is a real character, just Google it. The script was so brilliant that I read it continuously for 4 hours in the office, taking only coffee and washroom breaks in between. It was fun working with co-stars like Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi Sahab.
Seeing every character on the set reminded me of the film ‘Sholay’. Just as all the small and big characters of that film were hits, similarly all the characters of this film are being discussed a lot. I have worked with Rakesh Bedi Sahab before, old memories got refreshed.
Seeing the success of this film, I remembered what my parents said. Father had said – ‘If you want to survive, stay in line, do not step back. Opportunities will arise on their own. Mother used to say – ‘If you get a place to stand, you will get a place to sit also.
Question: What was the reaction of critics and co-stars to your role?
answer: Some actors also abused, but it was a compliment. Old friends, actors also say, ‘You are Guru Ghantal.’ Critics Komal Nahata appreciated my work. He says that after seeing Ankit playing the role of Javed, I felt like slapping him twice. What could be a bigger compliment than this for an actor?
Question: Tell us a little about what were the other major films before ‘Dhurandhar’?
answer: After 2006 I started films. First of all, I had a good role in ‘Maruti Mera Dost’, which people liked. It was a big film of that time, with good production values. Then ‘Hijack’ came, where Mukesh Chhabra Sahab recommended me. He had seen my sprite ad, which stuck in his mind. After that I had a silent character in ‘No One Killed Jessica’. The role of an uncle, who was about to save the murderer boy.
Later Mukesh Chhabra Saheb called in ‘Teen’. There were scenes with Nawaz in Kolkata shooting. With Amitabh Bachchan, Vidya Balan in this film. Worked in Rana Daggubati and Pulkit Samrat’s film ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’. After ‘Chamkila’ we got ‘Dhurandhar’. Chamkila polished my polish. Always chose good characters, even small ones.
Question: Tell us something about where and how your acting journey started?
answer: My acting started from my school days. Always used to do drama in programs. The real journey started in 1983 from Mandi House, Delhi. There I performed my first play ‘Hamida Bai Ki Kothi’ in Kamani Auditorium, which is Vijay Barve’s famous play. Artists like Kabir Bedi have also done that play.
At that time Mandi House was full of militant artists. Theater people and NSD people were all together. Freelancers could also read books in the library, no restrictions. I was also one of them.
Irrfan Khan was in the first year (82-83), Tigmanshu Dhulia, Piyush Mishra too. Seniors include NK Sharma, Manoj Bajpayee, Saurabh Shukla, Vijay Raj, Manoj Pava, Virendra Saxena. NSD repertory had great actors like Raghubir Yadav, Govind Namdev, Seema Biswas. Sitting and talking with all of them gave amazing energy.
Question: How long did you do theater in Delhi? Then when did you come to Mumbai?
answer: Yes, did the first play from Mandi House in 1983. After that he continued doing theater for 6-7 years. Had permission from parents. Father was a dentist in Delhi. Before the board exam, he asked whether I should take science or arts? I said, “You are a doctor, I want to become an actor.” He said, “If you have to do it, do it, don’t look back. If you work hard, even failure will become success.”
Then went to FTII Pune in 84-85, but the acting course was closed. Didn’t try NSD because there was a lot of competition. Only one seat from each state. Went through Mumbai in 86, but came permanently in 89 for apprenticeship. Shekhar Kapoor wanted to work with directors like Dev Anand and Satish Kaushik. Satish Kaushik also got a chance to assist in ‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’.
Question: When did you start acting? Meaning, the target was to become an actor, but I got the opportunity to learn direction with Satish Kaushik. How long did you stay?
answer: Stayed with Satish Kaushik ji for seven-eight months on his film. Shot several schedules. After that he started acting in Mumbai. Although before 1989, Doordarshan serials were done in Delhi, with independent producers, like Abhinav Chaturvedi’s production. Did lead roles there.
After coming to Mumbai, I could not join Satish ji’s next film ‘Prem’. When I went to Delhi, I got late due to the accident. Satish ji was also very angry as to where he had disappeared for so many days.
Well, during that time my friend Sanjeev Dutta introduced me to a director friend. He pitched the Doordarshan serial ‘Vilayati Babu’, which was produced by Arjun Kapoor’s mother Mona Kapoor. There were big stars like Shekhar Suman in it. I played the role of Bhaikuram Havaldar with Rakesh Bedi in it. Met Rakesh ji on the first day shoot, was his fan.
During dinner break, Rakesh Bhai said that I am doing a serial. Archana Puran Singh is the director. Younger brother has a big role in it. You meet him.
Question: Which serial was the one with Archana Puran Singh?
answer: Cinevista Production’s comedy show was “Jaane Bhi Do Paro”. 4-5th episodes of that serial had been shot. Archana ji called at Lokhandwala’s bungalow. Gave the scene of brother-in-law and sister-in-law, where she became the sister-in-law and also the director. I became the brother-in-law who came from Bihar and got auditioned on camera. After 30-35 seconds of meeting, Archana ji said, “Good Ankit, you have got this second lead role.
Question: Which other shows did you do after ‘Jaane Bhi Do Paro’?
answer: After that, she did Cinevista’s show ‘Nahle Pe Dahla’, which featured Satish Shah, Shekhar Suman, Rakesh Bedi and Supriya Pilgaonkar. I was in the second lead, it ran for 52 episodes. Then the third show ‘Zindagi Milke Bitayenge’ under the direction of Raj Sippy, in which Pental-Guddy Maruti became my parents and Kiran Kumar was in the lead. Did ‘Zindagi Milke Bitayenge’ till 2000-01, then due to some circumstances of life I had to take a break.
When he returned around 2006, casting director Jogi called for a sprite ad, Amit Sharma directed it. It was a hit, then did 15-20 ads in the lead. Indian Railways’ Railgaadi Chhik-Chhik’ ad with Piyush Pandey was shot in Kolkata, became very popular. Many ads were also received from theater friends like Gajraj Rao, Sujit Sarkar.
