'I haven't planned my next movie'

Says Sharan, who has completed 100 films with his latest venture Rambo

There are many bigwigs in the film industry who make a hue and cry when they start their 50th or 100th film — but on the other hand, there is Sharan, who quietly completed his century with Rambo. 

The movie, which will hit screens shortly, will not only see Sharan in the lead role but will also see him as a producer for the first time. But the decision to produce and act as the lead character were never on his agenda, he says. “It was a fortunate accident,” describes Sharan, while adding, “there was this friend of mine who had come to meet a hero to narrate a story. While waiting for him to turn up, he started narrating another story to a bunch of us just to pass time and Rambo is that film.” When Sharan heard the story, he knew he wanted to be a part of it. Interestingly, barring Sundari Ganda Sadananda, Sharan has never appeared in a lead role. 

He says that he has always been content playing character roles. In fact, he recollects the day his father first took him to act in a small part in a film. “The minute the make-up man came, I actually jumped over the compound and ran away from there,” he says. 

“I never thought acting was my cup of tea — but here I am today; 10 years and 100 films down and I owe it all to the industry and the audience who have accepted me,” he adds. 

It was this confidence that he has in people that made him feel that he could carry off a title role. And the pressure is something he says he can handle. “I am not doing anything outside of the ordinary in the movie. The script is the hero and people have always liked me in a comic role. Even in Rambo, I will be seen in a comic role,” he says.

As much as he enjoys comedy, Sharan says that he is comfortable with the genre and does not want to risk anything by trying something else. “Though I do this every day, I still feel that making someone laugh is the toughest task because timing is everything.

Other veterans in the genre have really inspired me and I feel it’s because of their hard work that comedians have gained more respect in the industry today,” he adds.

So with Rambo, will Sharan continue acting in only lead roles? “At this point of time, I haven’t planned my next move. In all my ten years I have never planned my career because I never thought I would survive a 100 films. But now, I feel I still have a long way to go and a lot more to learn,” he sums up.