I wasn't confident of playing Lokmanya Tilak: Subodh Bhave

Veteran Marathi actor Subodh Bhave says he was not confident of playing larger-than-life character of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 'Lomanya-Ek Yug Purush', a biopic on one of the country's biggest social reformer.

The 'Balgandharva' helmer, who has been born and brought up in Pune where Tilak's life spanned around, says playing such a personality was an honour for him as he grew reading about the reformer right from his childhood.

"Till last, I was not confident that I would be able to do this role. But Om (director Om Raut) had faith in me. Also, internationally famed makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad completely transformed me. Vikram's hand can take anyone into the character," Bhave told PTI on the sidelines of the film's screening at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

The actor, who won the 2011 MIFTA best actor award for his role in another biopic 'Balgandharva', said that working on 'Lokmanya...' project was "fantastic."

"Lokmanya Tilak is a person about whom you have learnt through school lessons. He organised pre-independence movement against the British. We could not learn much about Lokmanya during the school days," he says.

Subodh said that director Om Raut had conducted an extensive research on Tilak before making the film.

"He had clarity about the character. He was crystal clear about the movie and what he wanted to project through the film," said the actor.

Subodh said Tilak's ideology is relevant even now. "The service of the nation does not stop after the independence, actually it starts after it (independence). Tilak is relevant in this period. His thoughts were much ahead of the time. We should be able to learn from them," he added.