Exclusive! Chirag Patil: Failures have helped me mature as an actor

Chirag Patil is happy with the response he got for his last outing. The actor, who played the role of his father, former cricketer Sandeep Patil, in Kabir Khan’s '83', says that the film was worth the wait. “I remember just two days prior to the film's first look launch, the nationwide lockdown was announced. It was my career’s biggest film, and we had to wait for two long years before it was released,” he says, adding, “But the film has opened more doors for me. I am getting many offers but haven't zeroed in on any project yet. I intend to create a balance when it comes to films. Ideally, I would want to do one

Marathi

and one

Hindi

film every year.”
‘This is not my second innings’
Even though none of his previous Hindi outings have managed to make the desired impact, Chirag firmly believes that success and setbacks are a part of showbiz. However, he refuses to label the current phase as his second innings in Bollywood. He explains, "I have been in the industry for the past 13 years. Even though my initial films didn't work, I believed in them. In fact, whatever I have done in Hindi and Marathi films or television so far, I have learned something from each project, irrespective how it fared. I think the failures have only added to my life's experiences and have made me a mature actor and person. So, this is a continued journey with a fair share of challenges and good times."

'Happy to be doing an action film' Chirag will next be seen in a Marathi film titled 'Marathi Paul Padte Pudhe', where he sports a rowdy look. He elaborates, "It is my first out and out action film, and I am very excited about it. I play a man who is fighting against the system. I had a great time pulling off the high-octane fight scenes. I had to also work on my physique and looks, which was quite an exciting process. The major portion of the film was finished before the nationwide lockdown was announced. Later, we did some patchwork after the unlock phase. I am happy that after being delayed so much, the film will finally be released on the big screen. Another Marathi film of mine, titled 'Dil Dosti Deewangi', is also ready to be released. So, there is a lot to look forward to."


'Groupism exists in Marathi cinema' Talking about Marathi cinema, Chirag states that it is in a great state right now. "There are some amazing stories being told; there are talented actors, filmmakers, music artistes and technicians in the industry,” he says. Having said this, the actor feels that groupism exists in the industry. “Groupism and and lobby culture still exists here. But that is true of any field. I honestly feel that lobbying should be stopped so that there is room for more talent," adds Chirag.

The lockdown was indeed a difficult period for everyone. I was fortunate to be in the comfort of my home and amidst my family members. Professionally, it was a challenging phase as my films were ready but couldn't be released. It wasn’t frustrating though becaus I don't get bogged down by setbacks