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An actor should keep presenting variations: Mangesh Desai
Mangesh Desai will be seen playing a grey shade in Sameer Surve’ Judgement
Known for his comic timing, impeccable drama and powerful acting, actor Mangesh Desai will be venturing into an unknown territory with his next. The Khel Mandala (2011) actor will be seen in a negative role in Sameer Ramesh Surve’s, Judgement.
On what got him to take up something so unexpected, Mangesh says, “I have always believed that an actor should keep taking up different parts. Yes, he should excel in one genre, but at the same time, he should be able to stand out in other roles as well. It’s like, an artist who will always have his base in one technique of painting, but his other methods will be exceptional too. Similarly, an actor should be able to explore and present a variety.”
The Laal Batti (2018) actor shares that incidentally, his friends and fellow co-actors and directors would often suggest that he should try his hand at a grey character. “I also believe that with a negative character, you can do so much more. I felt there is so much in me to be tapped and explored yet. When I read the novel Ruun (on which the film is based), I immediately could picturise the character as we do have people like him around us. I believe, everyone has a villain hidden in him/her,” he says.
The character, Joker from Batman movies was Mangesh’s inspiration to work on the character, Agnivesh. Having said that, he adds that he hasn’t adapted the character of Joker, but merely observed it to get an idea. “Agnivesh is in his 50s, he is a smoker, he is cunning. So, I tried to bring these aspects in his body language. For example, the smoking has affected his voice, he walks with a slight hunch,” he says.
Mangesh generally likes being a mix of a director’s actor and having a say during the shoot too. And, on this project, he met his match with Sameer. “Sameer patiently heard my version of playing the character. He is a very balanced director and immediately said that this is what he was looking out for too,” he concludes.
