New Delhi, Dec 13 : He is one of those actors who has carved a niche for himself in both commercial and independent cinema and Vinay Pathak says he wants to continue with acting till death.
The actor, who announced his arrival in Bollywood by tickling everybody's funnybone as Bharat Bhushan in ‘Bheja Fry', says he wants to be like Bollywood legend Dev Anand, who continued to work till the last day of his life.
“I always wanted to be a working actor. I want to be an actor till the day I die. I don't want to retire ever, just like Dev saab,” Vinay told PTI.
“I want acting to be my only profession. But I should also be able to support myself and my family and maintain a standard of living.
Unlike theatre, where one needs to have another job to support oneself,” added Vinay, who is equally prolific on stage.
Vinay, who was born in Bhojpur in Bihar, has a degree in drama from the State University of New York.
He said that he always wanted to be an actor and he is lucky that he is already living his cherished dream.
“My dream was to become an actor who is always busy with work. And it has already been fulfilled. I don't want to be a superstar, just a very good actor,” he said.
Best known for his comic roles in films like ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi', ‘Quick Gun Murugun', ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla', Vinay says he tried breaking away from his funny image with certain films, but it didn't work.
“I realise that I have an comic image in the industry after ‘Bheja Fry'. I am even offered similar roles. But I have tried to break free from it.
I have been part of films like ‘Johnny Gaddaar', ‘Via Darjeeling' and ‘Manorama Six Feet Under', in which I played an almost negative character, but it didn't work, neither for me nor for the film,” he said.
Vinay will be next seen opposite Neha Dhupia in the upcoming romantic comedy ‘Pappu Can't Dance Saala', directed by Saurabh Shukla. In the film, which hits the theatres on December 16, Vinay plays a simpleton from Benaras, who comes to Mumbai to work.
The actor was all praises for his co-star Neha, with whom he has already worked in films like ‘Mithya', ‘Dasvidaniya' and ‘Raat Gayi Baat Gayi'.
“I got goosebumps when I came to know that I was paired opposite Neha in the film. Neha to me is an actor who has not been taped the way she should have been. There is a lot to dig out from her.
I have worked with her and so I know there is a lot of potential in her. She just needs to be given the right script.” PTI
