Bollywood actor Mir Sarwar says that Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) has given him an identity.
“I got the offer for the film in 2014 and once it was released, it gave me an identity and people started recognising my face and name. It opened doors for me in the industry, fetching me more work,” he told Patriot.
Sarwar played the character named Rauf Aziz, Munni’s (Harshaali Malhotra) father in the film which garnered him immense love from the audience.
Sarwar, who has spent a significant time in Delhi, says he has a close connection with the city.
“I have lived in Delhi for 12 years from 1998 to 2010. I did modelling during the initial days of my career and later joined theatre. I started from Bapi Bose’s play Julius Caesar Ke Aakhri Saat Din. We did it in 2003 and 2004 and that was the beginning of my theatre career. The place has taught me a lot,” he says.
He adds that he has fond memories of the national capital.
“We usually used to go to Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk. Connaught Place also has its charm. Since I am fond of riding bikes, I used to go to India Gate for excursions,” he adds.
“I used to go to Nizamuddin and have non-vegetarian food from Ghalib Kabab Corner and also from Khan Market and Jamia. At Lajpat Nagar’s Ring Road, we used to have Rajma Chawal from a food joint that used to be open till 1 am. We have survived on Moolchand’s Parathas also,” he added.
The 47-year-old actor calls Delhi “a hub of theatres”. “There is serious theatre in Delhi. It is taken from the perspective of education. The audience is also active and several theatres including NSD are located at Mandi House,” says Sarwar who has worked in films like Phantom, Dishoom, Aiyaary, Kesari, Laxmii, Shershaah, Mission Majnu, and Gadar 2.
He believes that those doing theatre deserve government aid also.
“Those who are into theatre should be provided with some benefits as one does it for passion and doesn’t get returns. There are some schemes but they don’t reach the genuine artists. Instead, they go to those who haven’t done any groundwork in this field. Authorities should ensure that these schemes reach the deserving artists,” says Sarwar, who originally hails from Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir.
Sarwar wants theatre to be made compulsory in all educational institutions across India.
“It will boost students’ confidence, morale, communication skills and body language. There will be a transformation in their overall personality. It will also help them tomorrow in the career they choose,” he adds.
Sharing his experience, he says, “I was very shy and I could hardly stand in the classroom. I was unable to speak or respond but theatre changed my overall personality.”
When asked how he prepares himself for a role, Sarwar says that he always wants to act with originality.
“I act as whatever I am and don’t want to put the extra effort [on character] that doesn’t belong to me. It also depends on how the writer has written your character and about your co-actor and how they are reacting,” says Sarwar who has attended several NSD workshops in Srinagar.
He says that he wants to explore different genres of characters in this field.
“I have mostly been offered negative and emotional characters. I also want to do action movies. I want to be called a versatile actor,” he adds further.
He says that he was not sure he would come into the acting field and enter Bollywood.
“I did not know that I would take it as a profession as I was doing it as a passion. I always used to have dreams of doing plays and the audience applauding. But there were always apprehensions about whether my family and society would accept this. But my family has been very cooperative and all this was possible only because of them,” says Sarwar, who has many awards to his credit.
Talking about his latest projects, he adds, “Film Operation Valentine released last month, film Rang De Basanti is releasing soon and web series Ranneeti is also releasing soon. The shoot of the web series Tanaav 2 and Black Warrant has also been completed. A few of my independent projects are also in the pipeline through which I want to promote Kashmir,” he says.
“After so much struggle, I have now reached a level where I can decide what to pick up and what to drop,” he added.
