Man on a mission

Here is one interesting actor who when getting no work despite an impressive theatre background, produced his own films. And, guess what? Post it, work followed! Of course it was a long time back, but you might remember this actor, producer and director...Girja Shankar, who essayed the role of Dhritrashtra in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat.

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While this actor has been a part of Bollywood, Hollywood and was recently even nominated as supporting actor for film Faraar for one of the Pollywood awards; let’s go back to the role that brought him all the limelight. As you would guess, in an epic full of heroes, Girja was not keen to play a negative role, that too of a blind, helpless patriarch; it took the script writer Rahi Masoom Raza and producer BR Chopra some convincing to do. “I would rather have played Karan, but Raza and Chopra Sahib reasoned that it was way more challenging to carry the role from start to finish. And it sure was,” recalls Girja in Chandigarh.

Just back from Los Angeles where his kids are and where he has started a production house; Girja agrees that telly is nothing like it was when he started. Last seen in Uttaran, he reasons, “Earlier shows were weekly, now they are daily; putting the actors, directors, entire production crew in tizzy.”

While he is happy acting in Punjabi films, it’s a Hindi and another English project that he wants to direct and produce. “It’s heartening to see the kind of Punjabi films that are being made today and recognition they are getting worldwide,” says this actor from Patiala.

His first Hollywood outing as director — Banana Brothers — fetched him some desi love! “There are lot more interesting stories yet to be told,” says Girja, who hopes to be regular now as his production studio is up and rolling.

Meanwhile, coming back home is what he loves the most. In fact, he is looking forward to be back in Patiala for Sarv Bharatiya Punjabi Conference at the month end.

mona@tribunemail.com