Connery is like Dharmendra: Naseer

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript" src="Config?Configid=43376741"></script><br /><img align="left" src="/photo/27006.cms" alt="/photo/27006.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Naseeruddin Shah recounts the thrills of shooting for </span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.</span><br /><br />After 150 films, tackling a universe of subjects and getting "very bored," Naseeruddin Shah wonders whether "to live as an actor or not live at all."<br /><br />But he can''t conceal his excitement when he talks about his latest film, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</span>, with Sean Connery.It''ll have an August release in India and will hit US theatres in July. "Connery reminds me of Dharmendra -- lusty, full of laughter, down to earth, huge. He cracks dirty jokes and even scratches his bum. It was an absolute honour to share the frame with him. I couldn''t shed my awe of him," says Shah. He insisted on addressing Connery as ''Sir.'' "He appreciated that. Though he hasn''t seen many Hindi films, he asked about <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Monsoon Wedding</span>. So I trust he''s seen it by now."<br /><br />Shah says a lot of thought went into his role of Captain Nemo. "Is it the right platform to catapult me into international stardom? I don''t think so. It gave me a chance to work in a big film. I also got to see up close how big-budget Hollywood movies are made. Of course, I made a bit of money. No harm done," he laughs.<br /><br />The movie -- which has characters from the writings of Robert Louis Stevenson, Jules Verne, H G Wells, Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain -- is pure adventure. "It''s not a meaningful film, anyway. Interestingly, Tom Sawyer is depicted as an FBI agent," he says. Shah, who had blamed Bollywood for undermining his talent, has mellowed down. "I''m deeply grateful to Hindi cinema. Earlier I was venting out my feelings as they didn''t give me the kind of work I was capable of."<br /><br />Looking back, however, Shah feels he "under utilised opportunities given by Bollywood. I''m still unhappy with the quality of cinema coming out of Mumbai. I now want to be part of great cinema, no matter what my role is. If the role is remembered, it''s a bonus." He attributes this change to his getting older. "I''ve found that in a lot of places, work is better than anger," he says, adding that his most challenging role was the one where he had to sing. "I could never live up to it. I was pathetic even after trying hard. I still have to live with <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Oye Oye</span> (the song from <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Trimurti</span>)." <br /><br />Shah is also accused of being an egoist. "I don''t have the kind of ego which prevents me from being beaten up by a hero, or not being addressed as <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">''ji''.</span> My ego comes to the fore when I''m offered a role which insults my intelligence." About his elder son Imaaduddin''s interest in movies, Shah says he''ll "rigorously train my son and ensure that he''s better than me. But I wouldn''t be able to launch him. He has to claw his way up like I did."</div> </div>