'Revolver Rani' my stepping stone from ensemble to lead: Vir

This election season, Vir Das will be seen playing a corrupt politician's toy-boy lover in 'Revolver Rani' and the actor-comedian says the film will finally mark his entry into the lead man territory.

The 34-year-old actor began his Bollywood career in 2007 with 'Namastey London' in which he had a small cameo. He has mostly starred in successful films with ensemble casts be it - 'Badmaash Company', 'Delhi Belly' or 'Goa Goa Gone'.

"It feels like being promoted in a company. I don't have a very normal career graph. I am an outsider, who somehow managed to sneak into Bollywood. But it is a realistic journey - from one scene in my first to five in my next film to being part of the gang of boys in films. So 'Revolver Rani' is the stepping stone from ensemble to lead roles," Vir told PTI.

However, he has no regrets about working his way up through bit parts in movies to bigger roles and he says it is that toil that has made him a better actor today.

"I stated out as a film actor only few years ago. I have done only five films so far. But I would not change anything about how my career has shaped.

"I think if I had been launched like a hero, I would not have been able to survive as I did not know how to act. It took me this long to learn acting," he said.

In 'Revolver Rani', Vir is paired opposite Kangana Ranaut, who is basking in the glory of the success of her last release 'Queen'. It also stars Piyush Jha, who plays Kangana's uncle in the film, which will hit theatres on April 25.

"It was a very tough film to do as it has all elements like violence, intimacy and humour. It is both a love story and an anti-love story. Since the shoot was difficult for all of us (Kangana, Piyush and me), we had to give each other a lot of space," Vir said.

The film, directed by newcomer Sai Kabir, is set in the backdrop of the hostile territory of Chambal. Vir says he was reluctant to star in the film as he was not sure he would be able to pull off his character of a deceitful, evil, rising Bollywood star.
"The film was out of the blue for me. I was shooting 'Go Goa Gone'. I got a call from Sai Kabir. The call itself was a compliment for me. But I was apprehensive. I told them, 'I am not your guy' because the character is so manipulative, evil and dishonest.

"He uses his body for gains, he uses and throws away women, he is confident about his appeal to the opposite sex. He is just after money and power," he said.

But Vir says once he began shooting, he enjoyed playing Rohan Mehra as he was asked to go as much crazy, loud and over-the-top as possible.

"I enjoyed the role as I was asked to play a bad actor, very loud who doesn't know how to act yet wants to become a superstar. I had to be over-the-top with my acting. With this movie, I did all things filmy, which I shun in real life," he said.
Vir has also signed on to star in National Award-winner Shivaji Patil's film '1984', which is based on the sikh riots.

"I am paired opposite Soha in the film. It is a very serious film. It is a tough subject and I am looking forward to it," he said.