Bored with comedy, Arshad turns assassin

Mumbai, April 25 (IANS) Bollywood's most loved comic actor Arshad Warsi admits that he is fed up of doing comedy. Now he's all set to turn negative with an author-backed assassin's role in Kabeer Kaushik's film titled "Qazaa" (death).

"I'm playing a terrorist on hire. My character doesn't just shoot to kill and he plants bombs to destroy cities. 'Qazaa' is a film about global terrorism," Arshad told IANS.

Earlier, Arshad had played a serious anti-establishment cop in Kaushik's "Saher".

"That gave me a completely different role to do. If 'Saher' didn't work it wasn't because of my comic image. It just didn't have the money to be marketed well."

Apparently, Kaushik is unable to convince any actor to play the positive character in 'Qazaa' since he has already cast scene-stealer Arshad in the author-backed negative role.

"Kaushik has tremendous faith in me. I think I can pull off the villain's role in 'Qazaa'. It's not about playing the main role. I've refused so many leads - you'd be shocked if I started to count. I've two other films where I play negative roles."

Arshad, currently shooting for "Goal" in London, is in the mood to get serious.

"I try variations but I'm bored of comedy. It's like having the same food everyday. There's bound to be tedium. In fact I've stopped accepting comedy," admits the affable actor whose comic-turn in "Munnabhai", "Salaam Namaste" and "Golmaal" brought the house down.

"My last comedy after 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai' will be Indra Kumar's 'Dhamaal'. 'Anthony Kaun Hai?' was a thriller. In 'Kabul Express' I was a guy with a sense of humour who throws in his one-liners but he isn't a funny guy."

Arshad says he won't support weak actors by playing stupid roles.

"That's why I enjoy working with Sanjay Dutt. He's not at all insecure. I started my career late, stayed away for three years. I've seen it all."

About losing out working with Rituparno Ghosh in "Sunglass", he said: "I knew it'd be great fun working with him. But never mind. I know some day he'll call me again.

"Yes, it was a money issue. In signing films my logic is very simple. Either give me the money or fame. The big filmmakers don't pay you. So who the hell pays my bills? I think I'll have to find another job to support myself as an actor."

How about theatre?

"I've been a choreographer on stage before I became a film actor. Theatre gives even less money than movies."

Arshad Warsi Pictures