I have no desire to direct: Paresh Rawal (Interview)

New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) Paresh Rawal's acting skills are well-known and the popular actor also dons the producer's hat for several television serials but the veteran is clear that he will not turn director in the near future.

The 59-year-old, who made his acting debut with the 1984 film 'Holi', has had a successful career as a television producer with his production house, Play Time Creations, having churned out shows like 'Teen Bahuraaniya', 'Main Aisi Kyunn Hoon' and 'Laagi Tujhse Lagan', among others.

But he has no plans to helm a film or a serial.

'I have no desire to direct. At the moment I am happy with production and acting,' Paresh told IANS on phone from Mumbai.

After the success of 'Paa', where he played grandfather to Amitabh Bachchan's progeric character Auro, Paresh is ready with two films - 'Road To Sangam' and 'Rann' - both releasing Jan 29.

While in Amit Rai's 'Road To Sangam', he essays the role of a devout Muslim, in Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rann', he plays a corrupt politician.

Asked if he was nervous about the box office fate of the two films, he said: 'I don't get nervous now. I do my job with utmost dedication. My work is to listen to the director. I feel satisfied after doing the film. The rest is in people's hands.'

'Road To Sangam', set in present-day Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, revolves round the character of Hashmatullah, a Muslim mechanic played by Paresh, who rebuilt an old car to ferry an urn containing Gandhiji's ashes to commemorate his death anniversary.

The film by a first-time director also stars Om Puri.

Paresh said he had no problems working with a newcomer.

'I didn't have any apprehensions in working with a new director. Even if you work with an established filmmaker, there is no guarantee that the film will work. So, as far as I'm concerned, all that is important to me is that the film is made well,' said Paresh, who has acted in hit films like 'Naam', 'Hero No.1', 'Welcome', 'Cheeni Kum', 'Golmaal' and 'Hera Pheri'.

The yet-to-release film has been applauded at various international film festivals. It won three awards -- best foreign film, best foreign film original score and best foreign film production design -- at the Los Angeles Reel Film Festival.

'Road To Sangam' also bagged the audience choice award for best film by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), best first film of a director award at the International Film Festival of South Africa and best feature film award at the Radar Hamburg Film Festival in Germany.

After 'Road To Sangam' and 'Rann', Paresh will return to comedy with 'Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge', which features Ajay Devgn and Konkana Sen Sharma.

Copyright  IANS

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