Shaad's drag act in Bangkok

Mumbai, Sep 14 (IANS) Spurred by the success of John Travolta's drag act in the comedy "Hairspray", a number of Bollywood directors are planning to put their leading men into ladies' clothes. Shaad Randhawa is the latest to do so in Shashi Ranjan's "Dhoom Dhadaka".

A longish drag act featuring Sammir Dattani and Shaad, who pose as girls along with Shama Sikandar and Aarti Chabria, was incorporated into the plot. The movie is currently being shot in Bangkok.

Shaad, who's done "Woh Lamhe" and "Awarapan" for Mahesh Bhatt and Mukhesh Bhatt, says he was uncomfortable when he was asked to get into women's clothes.

"It felt funny to begin with. Obviously, I had never done it before. After my colleague Sammir and I got into those women's clothes we just kept looking at each other and wondering what we were doing. Once we got a hang of it, it was fine, and even fun," Shaad told IANS.

"Both Sammir and I realised that as actors we'd be required to do many things that we aren't comfortable with. That's what acting is. In 'Woh Lamhe' I had to abuse Kangana Ranaut physically and verbally. I'd go up and apologise to her after every shot."

After "Woh Lamhe", Shaad didn't want to get typecast as a villain. The Bhatts gave him a choice of either playing Emran Hashmi's friend or the junkie villain, played by Purab Kohli, in "Awarapan".

Shaad opted for the more sympathetic role. Now this nephew of legendary Mumtaz has gone into comedy in "Dhoom Dhadaka".

"My aunt offered to take me around to introduce me to producers in Mumbai. But I knew in the long run that wouldn't help me at all. I wanted to do it on my own," said Shaad whose father, once a professional wrestler, is actor Dara Singh's brother.

"I grew up in an environment of aggression. But somehow I'm more a philosopher at heart than a warrior," said Shaad, who promises to remain loyal to his mentors.

"They gave me my first and second break. I can't let them down."

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