You are doing Ram Gopal Varma's Sholay, where you are playing Gabbar Singh -- a role played by your close friend Amjad Khan. Is there a feeling of nostalgia? Do you miss him?
Obviously. Every step you take while working on the film, you think about what went on. Memories of any film you do always remain with you. Sometimes, when you get an opportunity to refer to it or think back on it, which happens quite often, because as you age you start thinking of your past a lot more.
Sholay has been a huge amount of nostalgia. In some ways, it's also coming full circle.
I loved Gabbar Singh's role when Salim-Javed narrated it to me. I begged Mr Ramesh Sippy that I wanted to do it. We were driving for the first time from Bangalore to the location. He didn't agree. I am happy Ramu has thrown this, as a challenge.
Will there be comparisons, as Amjad Khan made Gabbar an iconic villain?
Obviously there will be comparisons. That's fair enough. That's something one will have to live with. What is interesting is that there are diverse roles coming my way, which is not necessarily the good sounding patriarch who looks after the family.
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