Actor Pavan Malhotra talks about Mubarakan, his co-stars, and why he can’t play the same kind of roles
I will not sign a film till I read the script, says actor Pavan Malhotra who is known for films like Rustom, Badmash Company, Black Friday, Bhindi Bazaar and others. “When I read the script, I always look out for my character and how important it is to the story. The role should also excite me and offer me something new,” says the actor, adding that god has been kind of him because he has never approached people. “Work has always come to me and I had never visit anyone for work,” says the actor while promoting Anees Bazmee's multi-starrer Mubarakan, which is releasing on July 28.
Pavan calls Mubarakan a made ride and a family film. “It's a feel good kind of family film. It's a story about two families (a brother and sister) and their children. Because of the tiff between the siblings, the children also get affected. Anees Bazmee has added his own tadka to the film so it's a good film,” says the actor. Praising his director further, he adds, “Anees is a very good director and full of energy. In fact his level of energy is same throughout the day. Even if a scene involves 10 actors, he will go personally to everyone to explain the scene. There were few emotional scenes in the film and while explaining them, he would get tears in his eyes. When all the actors in a multi-starrer do well, then the director has done his job and the that's the case with this film.”
The film also stars Anil Kapoor, Ratna Pathak Shah, Arjun Kapoor, Athiya Shetty, Ileana D'Cruz and others. The actor who has worked in critically-acclaimed films like Bagh Bahadur (1989) - Ghunuram and Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro can't stop raving about Anil Kapoor. “I know Ratna very well because I have worked with Naseeruddin. But this is the first time I am working with Anil and impressed with his level of passion and involvement. Even though he is a star but he doesn't take his work casually. I remember after watching final cut of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, he called me and spoke for a good 20 minutes,” he says. He also praises Arjun and Athiya and says that Arjun has done a good job. “It's not easy to do a double role. Sometimes, you might end up doing caricature while playing a role like this but he is so normal in the film. Athiya, on the other hand, is a such a well-behaved girl and she was on the set to learn.”
The actor says that though Mubarakan has an ensemble cast film but each and every character is important. He adds, “In a multi-starrer film, every character needs to perform otherwise the film might fall flat. Though, as actor it's my duty to give my best but even others need to perform.”
Pavan who has played different types of roles says that versatility is very important for him. “I can't play the same kind of role. Even if I have played a Sikh in many films, the mannerism of each character in each project has been different. There should be different shades to every character,” says the actor who will next seen in Judwaa 2, Amit Rai's next, and Veena Bakshi's next, among others.
