Madhur Bhandarkar can't say no to Thackeray

Madhur Bhandarkar has turned actor. And he was teased mercilessly by his co-stars Dimple Kapadia and Sarika who ganged up against poor Madhur for as long as he shot. Agreed, he did walk on parts in Ram Gopal Varma"s Rangeela and his own film Fashion. But in Rahul Dholakia"s Society, for the first time Madhur has a clearly-etched part with a character who speaks lines.

Madhur, who shot for the film on Tuesday, says it was on producer Smita Thackeray"s insistence. “My first reaction was to refuse. I can"t act! But nobody says no to Smitaji. Besides, she told me I had to play myself. Also the director Rahul Dholakia is a dear friend. I really liked his work in Parzania." But it was the cast that finally clinched it for Madhur.

“When I heard I had scenes with Om Puriji, Dimple Kapadiaji, Sarikaji and Seema Biswaji, I felt I had reached heaven. I mean….My god! These are stalwarts I grew up worshipping and watching. I never thought I"d be acting with them one day." Madhur plays himself, the director Madhur Bhandarkar, who comes to the housing society to research on a film he"s making on the water scarcity in Mumbai.

The fun part was the endless ribbing Madhur underwent in the hands of the playful duo Dimple Kapadia and Sarika. “They insisted on running to the monitor to watch my shots and comment on them. It was like a dream come true to be working in front of the camera with these two beautiful actresses," says Madhur.

And now Madhur wants to cast Dimple and Sarika in his next film, a romantic comedy which he is going to start in July ahead of the film he plans to make with Kareena Kapoor in September. Quips Madhur, “I had a walk-on parts in Rangeela and Fashion. Both were hits. I hope I prove the lucky mascot in Society. Then I can start charging money for my screen appearances."