Strange
are
the
ways
of
filmdom.
Om
Puri
who
is
eight
years
younger
to
Big
B
was
cast
as
the
superstar's
elder
brother
in
Ravi
Chopra's
Baabul.
"The
role
was
to
be
played
by
Amrish
Puri
Saab," explains
Om
with
a
laugh.
"Amrishji
was
gone.
I
think
he'd
have
been
a
far
more
appropriate
choice
for
the
role.
But
it's
ok.
People
in
any
case,
believe
Amrishji
and
I
are
brothers.
I
still
get
condolences
for
his
death."
The
super-prolific
Om
has
decided
to
cut
down
on
his
work-load.
"Enough
is
enough.
I've
slogged
for
thirty
years.
I've
accumulated
a
decent
bank
balance
(though
it
may
not
be
decent
by
Bollywood
standards).
I've
done
roles
for
fun
and
for
job
satisfaction.
Now
I
need
to
take
it
easy.
I
keep
turning
down
offers.
I
need
a
break.
."
Om
will
be
seen
shortly
in
a
very
unusual
English-language
film
titled
The
Hangman
directed
by
debutant
Vishal
Bhandari.
"It's
about
the
turmoil
of
a
hang-man.
It's
a
somber
film
about
a
man
who
doesn't
want
his
son
to
be
a
hang-man.
My
son
finally
ends
up
in
the
gallows.
We
all
know
how
tough
it
was
for
them
to
find
a
hangman
for
the
recent
execution
of
that
boy
for
rape
and
murder
in
Kolkata.
My
character
portrays
the
stress
and
drama
of
being
in
the
most
thankless
job
on
this
earth.
It's
not
an
entertaining
film
by
any
means.
So
I
don"t
know
how
it
will
be
released.
But
it"s
a
very
powerful
film."
For
now
Om
has
decided
to
take
a
break.
He's
very
excited
about
Mani
Shankar's
Mukhbiir.
"It's
a
very
realistic
espionage
drama.
Mani
has
gone
into
an
aspect
of
the
government's
secret
service
that
hasn't
been
tackled
before.
It
shows
how
the
government
recruits,
uses
and
discards
young
informers.
It's
almost
like
the
underworld
which
employs
desperate
youngsters
and
bumps
them
off
at
will.
I
play
a
ruthless
hardcore
professional
who's
almost
a
father-figure
for
the
informer
played
by
Sammir
Dattani."
Om
gets
nostalgic
about
his
pal
Naseeruddin
Shah.
"He
directed
a
film
last
year.
I've
no
such
plans.
I'm
happy
with
my
lot
in
life.
It's
just
three
of
us.
My
son,
wife
and
I.
Our
expenses
are
meager.
My
wife
does
like
to
indulge
herself
a
bit.
I
had
taken
her
along
to
Vancouver
where
I
was
shooting
last
month.
Om
worries
about
his
son
who's
just
10.
"I've
a
little
son.
He
needs
careful
nurturing.
I
can't
just
sit
back
and
relax.
Naseer's
children
are
grown
up.
His
responsibilities
are
over.
And
besides
he
has
earned
a
lot
more
than
me.
I've
been
paid
peanuts
for
my
efforts.
I
was
paid
a
mere
7
lakh
rupees
for
playing
one
of
the
central
characters
and
working
four
months
non-stop
in
Raj
Kumar
Santoshi's
China
Gate.
I'm
sure
Naseer
must've
got
five
times
more
money
for
the
same
film.
Surely
big
filmmakers
like
Santoshi
Saab
should
be
more
cautious
of
my
worth.
But
I've
no
complaints.
I
just
want
to
take
the
next
two
months
off.
I
may
return
to
theatre,
or
do
a
small
but
meaningful
film
that
gives
me
satisfaction
as
an
actor.
The
Hangman
and
Mukhbiir
are
such
films."