Dalip Tahil Playing The Bad Guy A Big Plus In Real Life

Dalip Tahil Playing The Bad Guy A Big Plus In Real Life

No introduction required for this legendary film star Dalip Tahil. He is a well know Indian film, television and theatre actor. He studied at Sherwood College in Nainital, India. He is known for his work in many films including Bazzigar, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Tridev, Ram Lakhan and many more. There is not enough we can say about the input Dalip has put in the Bollywood film industry. Dalip is mainly known for his negative character in the films.

The villain who spices up the film and a film is incomplete without them. They are the bad guys who want to destroy the love and the world. But are they really bad in the real world too? Let’s meet the bad guy in the reel life who is a truly a good guy in real life. Dalip Tahil is our guest of the week at Urban Asian. We had a chance to chat with him and find out more about his life and his career. So is he really the bad guy? Let’s hear what Dalip has to say.

Thank you, Dalip for being our guest.

Are you working on any project currently?
Yes, presently I am simultaneously working on seven projects, three movies, and four web series. ‘Mission Mangal’ with Akshay Kumar, ‘Ramyug’ with Kunal Kohli in which I am playing the role of Vishwamitra and then there is a very exciting project that I am working on that is titled ‘Toolsidas Junior’ produced by Ashutosh Gowariker, directed by Mridul. This movie has Sanjay Dutt and Chimpu Kapoor who by the way is returning to acting after 27 years, which in itself is going to be an interesting facet of this movie. These are the three major feature films that are in the making and ones that I am playing parts in.
Other than these, I am working in a web series titled ‘The Family Man’ with Manoj Bajpayee directed by Raj and DK. The other is an Anil Kapoor Production titled ‘Selection Day’, season one of which is already streaming on Netflix, Sudhir Mishra’s ‘Hostage’ by Applause Entertainment and Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Made in Heaven’ on Amazon Prime.

I recently also finished recording for the 91.1 FM’s Radio Series on Mahabharat in which I have lent the voice for Dronacharya’s character. Other than these, I have independent shows and commercials happening alongside too. So overall it is going to be a busy year ahead and which of course, is great!

What difference do you see in the old Bollywood and new Bollywood?
Watching movies has transitioned from single screen to multi-screens and in addition today one can simply entertain oneself through the phone or devices used for communication. So the mode of distribution has transitioned radically and revolutionized the way movies or cinema is consumed. The shift in the role of distribution has allowed a variety of motion pictures, outside the mainstream, to make it to its viewers. In the yesteryears, there were so many movies that were being made in Bollywood but never made it to the big screen, since the movie halls were dominated by ones that drew audiences by star cast. Today’s distribution has changed that monopoly and filmmakers are experimenting with everything under the sky and; the quality of content and creativity is being admired by a wider set of audiences. The technology-driven applications like Netflix and Amazon have allowed content to be explored in all formats and it has made a vast difference to the way we now consume entertainment.

Are you more interested in Hollywood films?
I am interested in working on good projects, across the spectrum. Hollywood is no different if there is a good project and if I am offered to play a part in one, I may take it up. It’s not like I would prefer one over another just because it is more popular. For instance, I have recently played a role in a Marathi film with Mahesh Manjrekar and I did it because it was a good role and it interested me. So it doesn’t matter whether it is Hollywood or Bollywood or any other movie industry so long as it makes me feel satisfied with the work I do. I am more confident speaking in Hindi and English; and yes, if I am offered a film in Hollywood or for that matter even through an independent studio, I will do it so long as I can justify to myself and my profession that it would be good work.

Who is your favorite actor in the young stream?
This generation of actors is extremely talented and it would be difficult to cherry-pick favorites. Having said that, I admit that I enjoy watching Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, and Kirti Kulhari for their acting skills. These actors have a great screen presence and truly are a talented bunch.

If you go back in time and you could change one thing. What that would be?
At the time when I entered the industry, the choices were narrow and limited, unlike today. It was the times that made me make certain choices earlier on in my career that seemed right, and which if I had the choice, I would like to revisit. While I say that, I don’t mean to say that I made wrong choices but now that I look back, I realize I could’ve been more judicious. I would also like to state that I have been fortunate to have worked in some memorable films including Baazigar, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Ishq and a host of other films.

Who was your favorite director to work with?
I have had the privilege of working with so many great directors that it would be unfair to single out anyone.

What do you have to say about social media today?
In my opinion, Social Media is a double-edged sword and one has to handle it delicately. One needs to understand their purpose of being on Social Media and what their appetite is to effectively channelize their communication with the public in general. The advent and use of Social Media is a great thing for the present generation. It is such a boon for enabling diverse thoughts and ideas to come together on a single platform and technology has made it possible for us to make the most of it. On the other hand, it can be used for driving just nuisance, which is its bane. So ultimately, it boils down to one’s judgment and personal choice about how they wish to utilize Social Media.

If you were not an actor?
I cannot imagine being anything else other than an actor. Before becoming a full-time professional actor, I did a bit of flying with my father in the initial days. I also produced and directed short films when I worked in advertising but I gave up all that to become a professional actor. I feel and I know that I couldn’t have been any happier than where I am. I am extremely passionate about acting and; even through the ups and downs which almost every actor goes through their careers, I have felt that this is where I belong. In fact, there have been very low phases in my professional life and yet, I have felt that acting is what I would continue pursuing rather than switching or quitting. Acting is my true calling and I am fortunate that I found it at a very young age during my school years and the enigma has stayed.

Why play the bad guy? How did people react to the reel life bad guy in real life?
Ironically, playing the bad guy in reel life is a big plus in real life. When people have watched you as a bad guy on the screen, funnily enough, they expect you to be a bad guy in person too. So when they actually meet you in person and find out that you’re not what they had imagined, they feel pleasantly surprised and take a kind of default liking towards you☺. This is great because the benchmark they have set for me is already so low that I don’t have to do anything different to mark up my image. However, the same does not cross over well for the actors who play the good guy. They are already so loved and have been perceived by the masses as being someone who’s better than the rest. For these actors, all it takes is one bad day where if they lose their cool in public or behave just like any ordinary person would, they have to face the wrath of the same people who love and adore them. And this is very unfortunate.

Some words for your fans.
Do your work with honesty, commitment, and integrity. In this profession, for success, there is no other alternative to discipline and hard work, and this holds good for wherever you work or whichever profession you are into.