‘I’m playing a villain after 20 years’

Known for his comic timing and dancing, Javed Jaffrey will now be seen as a villain again in Besharam, War Chhod Na Yaar and Bang Bang. He says, “I am playing a hardcore villain after 20 years. I hope the audience will accept me in these roles once more. It is quite a risk for an actor who is known mostly for his comic roles to be seen in a negative light. Most of my popular characters are a bit overboard, just like in Salaam Namaste. I enjoy being the villain because an actor needs to be seen doing different roles.” The actor’s next release, War Chhod Na Yaar will see him playing the role of a Pakistani army officer. Speaking about the film and his role in it, he says, “The film is a unique approach towards Indo-Pak relations. It’s a lighter take on our relations, keeping the camera focused on showing the aspirations of people from both sides in a sensitive manner. We shot the scene in Rajasthan, where the temperature in the day would rise up to 50 degrees. The shots were taken to depict the Indo-Pak border. I had to speak in a mix of Urdu and Punjabi for this role.” Giving a detailed account of his other films Javed tells us, “I have also finished the shooting for Calling Mr Joe B Carvalho too. Bang Bang had been delayed due to Hrithik Roshan’s surgery and I’m not sure when we will resume shooting.” Javed, however, is not only busy with his films, but also has his plate full with several TV projects. “I am doing a show for the Epic channel and I am also working on producing my own show. My show will have a humane element to it.”