Because we are different.

‘I live in today’

24 November 2012

Having kicked off his career with negative roles, he’s now known for his humour. prabhjeet singh sethi catches up with Vindu Dara Singh

Was acting your real passion or did you follow you father’s footsteps? And how has he inspired you?
As a child, the first thing I dreamed of was acting. My first film was Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar at the age of six. The first time I put on make-up, it was quite clear that I was going to pursue acting. My father was a huge inspiration. I would see him workout every morning and, considering the tough workouts, I soon realised that wrestling was not my cup of tea. He was a liberal father and asked me to pursue whatever I wished to.

Tell us about some exciting and unforgettable instances you experienced with Dara Singh.
He was my father-cum-friend-cum-philosopher. One of the best memories is related to the times when I would attend his wrestling matches. The entire arena would resound with cheers for him. I very fondly recall that while sleeping at night he would mutter Hanumanji’s dialogues and we had to hear them many times. (Laughs.)

The toughest onscreen thing is making your audience laugh and you do accept comic roles. Which are the roles you actually prefer?
I love playing the negative, villainwala roles and after Big Boss 3 I’ve hardly gotten offers for such parts. In the wee years of my career, I was inadvertently considered for action roles and trained intensively with Ajay Devgn

In the early days, did wrestling ever interest you?
I loved wrestling back then. Dad would make me and my brother wrestle in the garden. As a kid, I was wiry and unfit for wrestling and chose the easier option (acting) as a career.

Another feather in your hat was the Big Boss 3 title. What’s your take on the inhouse experience?
Winning this show was like winning a national honour. Frankly, those were the toughest three months of my life and I cherish them. The show tests one’s limits and is potent enough to make or break a contestant’s career.

Keeping in mind your guest appearance in MasterChef India, are you a foody and which cuisine draws you?
Like any Punjabi, I am a really fond of food and am open to any type of cuisine. But my favourite is makki di roti and sarson da saag.

Like your father did, do you have plans to take the plunge into directing movies?
Just like him, I believe in hard work and sincerity. As long as I’m getting movie offers, I do not think of any other aspect except acting. I live in today and do not think about the past or future. You never know, production might be in the pipeline someday.

What’s your favourite pastime?
I love playing table tennis and miss the days when I would play chess with my father. I guess many greats have joined him up there to play on