New Delhi, Apr 1: Actor Ranvir Shorey, known for his power packed performances in “Khosla Ka Ghosla” and “Mithya”, says he is still struggling to get good work in the industry at 40.
Shorey made his debut in Bollywood with “Ek Chhotisi Love Story” in 2002 and starred in acclaimed films like “Traffic Signal” and “Bheja Fry”. But the actor says he is yet to get a chance to prove himself.
“Even at 40, I am still a struggling actor. In our industry star kids are given opportunities. There is no dearth of films for them. I have done films like “Ugly Aur Pagli” and “Mithya” for which I was appreciated.
But here am I finding it difficult even to get my films released. I am not getting a chance to prove myself,” Shorey told PTI. The actor also resents the fact that four to five of his films have not yet been released and he does not even know the reason behind it.
“Four to five of my films are yet to be released. It is not that I have not delivered. I have, but my films are not seeing the light of the day. I don't even know why. It is very difficult for me. Even I have to pay my bills,” the actor said.
Shorey has also done small roles in a number of high profile films such as “Jism”, “Lakshya”, “Singh Is Kinng” “Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd” and Yashraj's “Aaja Nachle” but they failed to bring good assignments his way.
“The only reason I took up small roles in big banner films was in the hope to get the attention of other directors. I didn't mind taking on small parts. I do not have any regret about it but I fail to understand that why am I not getting good roles,” he said.
The actor and former VJ made his debut with “Ek Chhotisi Love Story” but it was not until 2006 that he got noticed in Dibakar Banerjee directed comedy “Khosla Ka Ghosla”. “I never wanted to be an actor. I chose this profession because I was told that I was a good actor.
It is painful to see that the same people don't think I am good enough any more. There are filmmakers I have worked with who have made it big but don't want to work with me anymore,” Shorey said. Along with friend Vinay Pathak, he also hosted the successful talk show ‘Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun?' and ‘The Great Indian Comedy Show'.
“There is a lot of peer pressure. I find it difficult to answer when people ask me what I am doing and why I am not doing enough work.
It is sad that things didn't work in my favour as good as it did for others,” Shorey said. Asked if he contemplates trying his hand in direction or production, he said, “I don't just think of directing, sometimes I even think of leaving the profession altogether.
But then I don't know what to do. I can only act. That is what I have been doing since I was 21. I know nothing else.” The actor will next be seen in comedy caper “Life Ki Toh Lag Gayi” starring Kay Kay Menon, Pradhuman Singh, Manu Rishi and Neha Bhasin.
The film has been directed by debutant Rakesh Mehta and is scheduled to hit screens on April 20. Shorey and his actress-wife Konkona Sen Sharma welcomed their first son Haroon last year in March and the actor finds it difficult to leave the one-year-old alone behind at home and often brings him on sets.
“It is very difficult to leave him behind and come to work. I call him on the sets for some time to spend time with him. We (Konkona and he) are hands on parents and take turns to look after him. But we also have a nanny,” he said.
Shorey is currently shooting for Anant Mahadevan's next film “Gour Hari Dastaan” based on the real-life story of a freedom fighter, Gaur Hari Das, in which he plays a journalist.
This year he will also be seen in Yashraj Films'Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer “Ek Tha Tiger” which will be released on Eid. He has also done a cameo in the film adaptation of Salman Rushdie's 1981 novel ‘Midnight's Children', which has been written and directed by Deepa Mehta.
