Amitabh
Bachchan
was
offered
the
main
lead
in
Maharathi
but
since
he
declined
the
part,
it
went
to
Naseeruddin
Shah.
Actor
Paresh
Rawal
who
had
directed
the
original
Gujarati
play
by
the
same
on
which
the
film
is
based
tells
us,
"Yeah
Amitji
said
that
he
had
not
done
such
roles
earlier
and
was
skeptical
about
it.
He
was
kind
enough
to
say
that
he
did
not
want
to
do
it.
So
it
was
okay
with
me.
He
had
his
own
reasons."
Paresh
says,
"The
play
has
gone
through
a
lot
of
cinematic
changes.
Of
course
we
had
to
cut
out
a
lot
of
dialogues
so
that
the
audience
does
not
get
bored.
We
also
moved
the
play
to
a
lot
of
different
locations
to
make
it
more
spicy
and
crispy," says
Rawal."
So
was
a
lot
of
stuff
left
out
for
the
play?
"Yes,
we
have
been
associated
with
the
play
right
from
1987.
It
is
hard
to
kill
your
darlings
but
then
we
had
to
move
on
because
it
was
a
film.
Vikram
Bhatt
was
supposed
to
direct
it
earlier
but
he
got
busy
with
his
production
house
and
suggested
Shivam
Nair's
name."
The
multi-faceted
actor
has
now
deviated
towards
serious
roles
after
a
series
of
comedy
flicks.
"I
want
to
do
a
variety
of
roles.
I
think
it's
time
I
change
over.
I
love
doing
comedies
but
I
am
tired
of
stupid
and
mindless
comedies.
So
was
production
the
next
step
for
him?
Is
direction
the
next
one?
"Yes
I
always
wanted
to
produce
films
so
that
I
could
make
something
that
I
really
desire
to.
I
will
take
up
direction
after
two
to
three
years.
I
have
something
on
my
mind
and
am
looking
forward
to
taking
it
further," Rawal
concludes.