Mumbai, Mar 2: Filmmaker-actor Mahesh Manjrekar, who would be seen next as a police inspector in gangster movie ‘Shootout at Wadala', says, he is an actor by default.
“I did this film because of Sanjay Gupta. It was Gupta who introduced me to Hindi film industry as an actor. And I am not a passionate actor, I am actor by default, I am a lazy actor,” Mahesh told reporters here.
Mahesh started his acting career with Gupta's ‘Kaante' (2003) and thereafter did over 20 films including ‘Plan', ‘Musafir', ‘Zinda', ‘Dus Kahaniyaan' among others. As a director, he is credited for films like ‘Vaastav' (1999), ‘Astitva' (2000) and ‘Viruddh' (2005).
Now in ‘Shootout at Wadala' he shares screen space with actors John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut, Tusshar Kapoor and Ronit Roy.
The film will dramatise the first registered encounter by Mumbai police, where gangster Manya Surve was shot dead in 1982 in Wadala. John plays the role of Surve, while Anil Kapoor plays ACP Isaque Bagwan, Mahesh plays the role of Inspector Bhide.
Ask him when he intends to return to directing a Hindi film, he, says, “Marathi films, theatre, award functions..all these things keep me busy. So the day I don't have to remake a South film, I will do a Hindi film.”
