'Negative roles give me a kick'

Actor Raza Murad, who has over 46 years of experience in the film industry, has not been very active on the theatre circuit all these years. While he admits that he respects artists like Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah, who despite being popular on the big screen are active theatre actors, he says the medium “does not fascinate him”.

“I participated in the Ramleela last year, and have been receiving offers to do theatre regularly. I am a product of the Film and Television Institute of India, and I have always been interested in movies. Theatre is taxing and requires a lot more work and time, unlike films where we shoot one thing at a time. Also, there is no room for error in theatre as compared to films, where we can falter and fumble and redo the scene. So I never took it up. It is not my cup of tea,” Murad, who is known for his baritone voice, tells Metrolife.

However, the actor has now lent his deep voice to theatre writer and director Atul Satya Koushik’s Raavan Ki Ramayan, which seeks to present history from Raavan’s point of view. On being asked why he accepted to be a part of the project, Murad says because it was just a voice-over and did not require him to rehearse.

“I am actually a very lazy person, and my laziness does not allow me to go on stage. Even the other roles that I have done on stage, those of Ahiravan (brother of Ravana) and Raja Janak, did not require me to rehearse much,” he laughs.

Best remembered for essaying negative characters in movies like Henna, Ram Teri Ganga Maili and Mohra, ask him if he ever felt typecast, and the actor says, “To be honest, being typecast is bad for actors but good for their bank balance”.

“However, I get a sense of power in doing negative roles. Yes it is all make-believe, but while shooting you are surrounded by henchmen and I love it. Negative roles give me a kick, and I will continue to do such roles as long as the audience wants to see me,” the actor says.

He takes a pause, and continues, “A villain will always be a cheat, an unscrupulous character, but I have always played such roles with utmost honesty.” The play will be staged at Kamani Auditorium on August 6 at 7.30 pm) and August 7 at 4 pm and 7.30 pm.