New Delhi Nov 18 PTI The most compelling factor that attracted Saif Ali Khan to join the cast of his latest film Bunty Aur Babli 2 was the rare opportunity to play the character of Rakesh Trivedi aka Bunty who hails from a small town in Uttar PradeshThe trend has changed massively and films these days are all about coming home said the actor who has often played suave-oozing characters living in metro cities in hit films like Dil Chahta Hai Hum Tum Kal Ho Na Ho among othersI was excited about playing a small-town character because a lot of characters I played in the past were very urban NRI and wealthy The trend has changed massively to come home Its more interesting to do a character from a small-town in Fursatganj rather than in New York now I was happy I was getting a chance to do that because it was relevant I had that stomach a little accent and performance-wise I thought it would be interesting Khan 51 told PTI in a Zoom interviewThe National Award winner has played men from small towns in films few and far between His most lauded performance as Langda Tyadi was loosely based on William Shakespeares antagonist Iago in the Meerut-set Omkara 2006Then he starred as a gangster in 2013s Bullett Raja which was based in Uttar Pradesh Six years later he transformed into a warrior monk on a killing spree in the 18th century Bundelkhand in Laal KaptanKhan said it was heartening to see Indian cinema pick up on Made in India which he referred to as a movementFrom skin products to luxury retail just look at the kind of businesses that are taking off in India today You dont need to shop abroad anymore Similarly you dont need to shoot abroad if you need to tell a story he addedThe New Delhi-born actor also praised makers for looking at our own culture as there are enough stories hereWithout getting into politics I think its important to be aware of these things discover them and be proud and remember our heritage and part of that is movies In Bunty Aur Babli 2 Khan plays the other half of the original con artist titular duo Bunty opposite Rani Mukerji his co-star of films like Hum Tum Ta Ra Rum Pum and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic He steps into the role originally played by Abhishek Bachchan in the first film which was released in 2005The actor said his Bunty is a man struggling with mid-life crisis who is sort of heroic and admirableHe is very loyal to his wife who quite often bullies him You like him because you feel bad for him you admire him because he still stands by her What was also refreshing about the film was reuniting with Mukerji as they play people around their real ages and not that young couple we played in Hum Tum he saidWe are playing a couple thats quite over the hill retired into boredom and into the odd quiet whisky being the only happy thing really to look forward to And then they get a chance to get the zing back in life and have a good time But most importantly Khan said he was keen on not resting on laurelsPeople talk about the past as though its a very pleasant thing At the same time its a double-edged sword where people say why should I be interested in watching you now I was quite aware of that Luckily I live on planet earth and not an alternate dimension I quickly realised that we got to be really good Rani at her best is one of the finest actresses we have and a wonderful artist he addedDirected by Varun V Sharma Bunty Aur Babli 2 hits theatres Friday It also stars Gully Boy breakout Siddhant Chaturvedi and debutante Sharvari as the new-age con couple Bunty and Babli who are pitted against the original swindlersBunty Aur Babli 2 being a Yash Raj Films production was also a homecoming of sorts for the actor who made acting debut in 1993 with Parampara directed by the late Yash Chopra His last project with the banner was 2008s fantasy comedy drama Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and animated rom-com Roadside RomeoDoing a film with Yash Raj was very high on my list of things-to-do There were sentimental reasons that definitely made me feel want to work with them I started my career with Yash Raj I was directed by Mr Yash Chopra He was someone whom Id like to call a guide He was too senior to be a friend but I thought of him as a friend He was a mentor I supposeAdi filmmaker Aditya Chopra held the piece of paper that I was kind of trying to read out for my screen test Ive known them forever I hope to be in regular touch with them from now on Theres something nice about coming home and working with them Khan sharedAsked if he would be up for a Hum Tum sequel he replied Why not The actor who has previously starred in the action thriller film series Race said there cannot be too many franchises everCiting the examples of Indiana Jones and James Bond Khan said The world is full of franchises We need more A producer would absolutely love the idea You get a great character and you put them into many different situations Im a fan of something like that But provided its done with all the right intentions The actor recently wrapped Adipurush a historical film based on the Hindu epic Ramayana and will next star in the Hindi adaptation of the 2017 Tamil cop thriller Vikram Vedha PTI RDS BK BK
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