Bobby now willing to play dark character

Jul 25, 2007 Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, July 26 (IANS) The casting of a movie sometimes turns out to be as interesting as the film itself, if not more. Something like that happened with director Kabir Kaushik's directorial debut "Saher".

Kaushik had meant to cast Bobby in "Saher" but the actor wasn't prepared to go into the dark territory of crime and law enforcement in Bihar. So he said no.

And the role of a cop, battling boorishness in the backyards of Bihar, went to Arshad Warsi who, Bobby admits, did a brilliant job.

Fast forward to three years later. The director is all set to make a strangely titled film called "Chamkoo" about the journey of a Bihari youth into Mumbai's underworld. And this time Bobby is all set to take the plunge into the dark regions of the human heart.

Would Bobby's makeover as a Bihari vagabond be as complete as Saif Ali Khan's transformation into the uncouth Meerut-based villain in "Omkara"?

"I don't know about that," said Bobby. "I don't think Kabir Kaushik's film has to do that much with Bihar. My character moves to Mumbai pretty early in the script," Bobby told IANS.

"Actually, Kabeer had come to me with 'Saher'. But at that time I had a psychological block about new directors. I know that's strange considering my brother Sunny has worked with the maximum number of new directors. But today I have the confidence to move away from my rich boy image and attempt something dark, grim at the grassroots level," he added.

Bobby's confidence level has been on the upswing ever since he played the jealous musician in Suneel Darshan's "ShakaLaka Boom Boom".

"I guess it provoked me into exploring the dark region of my personality. Even my latest film 'Naqaab' pretty much explores the grey side.

"I think Kabeer Kaushik's film will take me further down that unlit road. At this stage of my career, it's fun to explore unpredictable characters. I'm rather tired of playing the suave rich character."

Whether Bobby will cut his long-flowing hair for Kaushik's film or incorporate it into his character, he doesn't know.

The tight-lipped Kaushik is working on a special look for Bobby.

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