Bobby moves from suave to Bihari babu

By: Subhash K. Jha, IndiaFM
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Sometimes the casting of a film in our film industry turns up to be as interesting as the film itself, if not more. Director Kabeer Kaushik had meant to cast Bobby Deol in his debut film Sehar. But Bobby wasn't prepared to go into the dark territory of crime and law-enforcement in Bihar. So he said no.

The role of cop battling boorishness in the backyards of Bihar went to Arshad Warsi who Bobby admits, did a brilliant job.

Fast-forward to three years later. Kabeer Kaushik is all set to make a strangely titled film called Chamkoo about the journey of a Bihari youth into Mumbai's underworld. And this time Bobby is all set to take the plunge into the dark regions of the human heart.

Would Bobby's makeover as a Bihari vagabond be as complete as Saif Ali Khan's transformation into the uncouth Meerut-bossy in Omkara?

"I don't know about that," chuckles Bobby. "I don't think Kabeer Kaushik's film has to do that much with Bihar. My character moves to Mumbai pretty early in the script. Actually, Kabeer had come to me with Sehar. But at that time I had a psychological block about new directors. I know that's strange considering my brother Sunny has worked with the maximum number of new directors. But today I've the confidence to move away from my rich-boy image and attempt something dark grim at the grassroot level."

Bobby's confidence level has been on the upswing ever since he played the jealous musician in Suneel Darshan's Shaka Laka Boom Boom.

"I guess it provoked me into exploring the dark region of my personality. Even my latest film Naqaab pretty much explores the grey side. I think Kabeer Kaushik's film will take me further down that unlit road. At this stage of my career its fun to explore unpredictable characters. I'm rather tired of playing the suave rich character."

Whether Bobby will cut his long-flowing hair for Kaushik's film or incorporate it into his character, he doesn't know.

The tight-lipped Kaushik is working on a special look for Bobby.