‘Audience will hate me if I don’t play the villain’

This Bollywood ���Badman��� needs no introduction. Meet Gulshan Grover, the villain, who is everyone���s favourite...thanks to his roles like Chhappan Tikli in the film Criminal and Tyson in Mohra. Back in news for his role in Jag Mundhra���s latest film, Gulshan talks of his journey so far.
The tag of ���Badman��� has become a synonym for Gulshan. ���This tag of ���Badman��� has given me an identity.And I love it when the audience calls me that. I am a villain only on screen. In real life, I am like Om Prakash, who never talks rudely to others. I love the way I am. I am an actor first. I also know that the audience will hate me if I don't play the villain,��� says Gulshan.
But why always a villain? Does that not confine his talent? ���I don���t think so. I���m an actor and I love the kind of work I���m getting. Playing a villain is not a bad thing. I am an artiste and the audience loves me in the roles I take.���
Ask him about his role in Jag Mundhra���s film and he replies: ���The movie was great. I love to do serious roles sometimes. When I saw the script it attracted me. Earlier, my role of Yunus was to be played by Om Puriji. But he asked me if I would want to do it, to which I readily agreed.���
Question him about his upcoming film and he says, ���I am doing many films. Even I don���t know mein kitni movies kar raha hun. Dilli 6, Dhoom Dadhakka, Nephilim and a few others. There are some international projects also which I think I should not disclose at this point of time.���
Gulshan is a veteran in the industry. When quizzed about the kind of villains we get to see in films these days, he said, ���I think the filmmakers have better technology now than we used to have and they are using it perfectly. But it���s fun when actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan play the roles of villain. It makes my job more challenging and watching them is exciting.���
He may be happy with the acting assignments that he is getting but has he ever toyed with the idea of production and direction? ���No, not all. I don���t want to get confused by doing all this. I prefer doing one work at a time. I am an actor and want to concentrate on the same. If I will direct a film and the film flops then the audience will think I am greedy for money, which I am not.���
Unlike his onscreen image, Grover is a softie at heart and is actively involved with the animal welfare organisation PETA. ���I am a villain only on screen, not in real life. But there are many real villains in real life who are treating animals very badly, so I thought as a filmi villain I should do some good for these animals,��� he says with a smile.
What about his personal life? Isn���t he attracted to the fairer sex? ���I think having any type of relationship with the fairer sex keeps a man fit. I am not into a deep relationship but I love to interact with ladies.���
Gulshan dotes on his son Sanjay. Will he ever join the Bollywood bandwagon? ���He has no interest in films. We are like good friends. It will be the saddest day of my life if he joins films. But still I want him to choose his career himself.���