Stars have lost their magic: Paresh Rawal

Dec 30, 2012 IANS

Mumbai, Dec 30 (IANS) Versatile actor Paresh Rawal feels film stars have lost their charm owing to extensive marketing and promotions.

"The stars have lost their magic in Bollywood. If I call myself a star, then no need to go door to door and ask the audience to come and watch me in theatres. There is no need for that. Does Rajinikant do that? Does any Southern star do that? Only we do that," Paresh told IANS.

"We have blown this marketing thing out of proportion as, if we don't do this, then we are going to die. Do aggressive marketing through TV and media. What is the need to go to Nagpur and wave your hands. People come because they like you. This is a very childish way of looking at marketing," he added.

Paresh has witnessed the film industry very closely in his two decades long career, and says now the stars in Bollywood want to play characters and don't want to sacrifice it for the sake of stardom.

"Star system will always be there, every film will need a star. Even if there is no star, you want to make somebody a star. Now fortunately, all the stars like Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, they have started playing characters," said the 62-year-old.

"Now the change that I see is, all of them want to play the character. They don't want to sacrifice the character for the sake of stardom and this is a very positive sign," he added.

Paresh recently turned producer with Akshay Kumar-starrer "Oh My God", which not only won critical appreciation, but also raked in moolah at the box-office.

But the actor says he doesn't associate himself with figures.

"I don't associate myself with any kind of figures. Rs.100 crore, Rs. 200 crore - they are just mere numbers. I feel the best film will stay with you. Few films will stay with me for ages like '3 Idiots', 'Kahaani', 'Vicky Donor', 'Oh My God'," said the actor.

"These are the health cinema which will entertain you with a message. It is good entertainment. Films like 'Teesri Manzil', 'Johnny Mera Naam' were also good entertainment," he added.

The actor, who has pulled off all his roles to the best of his ability, feels his best is yet to come.

"I would still say my best is yet to come because there are new writers, new directors, new ideas coming. The work culture has changed because of the multiplexes and all that. All the small films like 'Vicky Donor', 'Kahaani', 'Oh My God' among others have got an audience who are ready to watch these kind of films," he said.

"At this point of time, I would enjoy working more and I feel my best is yet to come," he added.