Vinod Khanna gets ready for second innings in films

Mumbai, Nov 4 (IANS) Veteran actor Vinod Khanna is back to the grind and is gung ho about his forthcoming film "Risk", a thriller with a family backdrop.

"I'm glad I got a chance to essay a variety of roles in my career. I am working after a very long time and my role in 'Risk' is very challenging. I guess today there aren't many roles written for people of our age group. Hopefully, if I get good meaty roles, I am even ready to take up a negative role. It has to be challenging enough to motivate me."

Vinod is a very contented person in real life, reports Bollywood Trade.

"Today, by grace of my guru Osho Rajneesh, there's a lot of happiness, peace and contentment within me. I was always confident about my decisions and deep down I knew I made the right moves. I'd like to direct and produce films someday but I want to settle down as an actor first. The entire ambience of light-camera-action always fascinated me."

Vinod terms "Risk", directed by Vishram Sawant, his comeback film. The film, in which he plays a gangster, also has Randeep Hooda and Tanushree Dutta in pivotal roles.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed this role. 'Risk' will launch me back. It's a realistic film and I'm very confident about my role in the film. There's no gangster's moll involved in this film and my character is somehow very unique. You won't see me wearing suits and headgears. I've enjoyed this role to the fullest.

"It is the story of an honest, righteous cop played by Randeep and a gangster played by me. I am this underworld don Khalid who has many shades to his character. Survival is the most important thing to him. He is a compassionate man who looks after his people, does charity and has grey shades to him as well. He speaks in the Mumbaiya Urdu dialect."

Vinod wants do a good mature love story of an old couple. But right now he is excited about the projects in hand.

"After 'Risk' I have another film coming up. It will be directed by Hriday Shetty and star Arbaaz Khan, Hrishita Bhatt, Amrita Arora and Preeti Jangiani. Even this one is an underworld film, but a different kind of an underworld flick.

"Apart from this, I also have two other films lined up. There's another film with my sons Rahul and Akshaye to be directed by Vikram Bhatt. It's still in the scripting stage. I'd also like to do a good mature love story of an old couple."

The actor feels that "Amar Akbar Anthony" can be remade.

"I don't watch many films though I've enjoyed watching 'Dil Chahta Hai', 'Sarkar', 'Black' and 'Rang De Basanti'. There are many films being remade these days. I think there's a dearth of scripts and we need to encourage more scriptwriters.

"Nonetheless, films like 'Amar Akbar Anthony', 'Mere Apne' and 'Imtihaan' can be remade. 'Amar Akbar Anthony' was a fun film and was very contemporary in those times, so there's no harm in remaking it. I'd love to see the freshness and novelty in remakes." Vinod says he doesn't interfere in his son Akshaye's matters.

"I've never been pushy or aggressive as a father. Every child has his or her own intelligence; they just need that right guidance. There's no need to be after them constantly and tell them what they are supposed to do. I never let that happen to me. I told my dad that I didn't want to become a businessman like him. I knew I wanted to become an actor. I left Akshaye after his first film. He was on his own after that."

Vinod wants to focus on his acting career.

"People didn't see much of me since I got involved in politics. Politics is about social service and paying attention to one's constituency. One cannot pursue any other profession as a minister, but as an MP I am allowed to work. So, I now have the time and permission to work. I want to concentrate on acting. No one knows I'm back to work. This is my first media interview after I decided to come back.

South Mumbai fascinates Vinod.

"I grew up with my close friends in South Mumbai. So, I'm very attached to that place and other places like Worli, Marine Drive, Metro cinema etc. I couldn't live in suburbs. I like the energy of suburbs but I hate the traffic out there. I bought two bungalows in Juhu and Pali hill."

Whether it's "Amar Akbar Anthony", "Qurbani" or "Dayavaan", Vinod is all set to recreate the magic of yore. His fans are eagerly looking forward to his second innings in Bollywood.

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