Tahir Raj Bhasin feels charming, boy-next-door villains can intrigue the audience

Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin, who played a villain in the Rani Mukerji-starrer Mardaani, and again in Force 2, says it if the audience can relate to a character, it will work.

Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin shot to fame when he played the antagonist in Mardaani (2014), which he followed up with another negative role in Force 2 (2016). While the actor is set to change his on-screen image, as he plays a superstar in his next film, Manto, he insists that playing a negative character gives you a different kick.

Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin will next be seen in Nandita Das’ directorial, Manto.

“There is something very exciting when you’re playing a villain,” he says, adding, “You’re being a rebel within the story because you are breaking the norms, and also when it comes to the structure of what a conventional lead is supposed to be.”

Tahir played an antagonist in two films, even when he was nowhere close to looking like a conventional villain. He feels it’s because of the trend of “casting against type” that helps increase the range of roles available for actors.

He explains, “So, when actors are cast in negative roles, people expect a particular kind of look; but what they get is a charming boy-next-door person, who has got a dark background. It makes it interesting and, at the same time, confusing for the audience to watch and decide what’s going on and whether they like the guy or not.”

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