Gadar 2 actor Manish Wadhwa says Sunny Deol completely transforms himself during a shot: ‘Turns into a sher from the otherwise soft-soften man’
August 10, 20230
Actor Manish Wadhwa talks about how he bagged Gadar 2, working with Sunny Deol and how it's important for films to do well for actors to get notice
Manish Wadhwa is best known for his portrayal of Chanakya. The actor is now gearing up to play the bad man in Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2. He is confident that audiences will love the film while hate his character. “Purana time hota toh screen pe chappal padhte (If it was old times, they would have thrown their slippers on the screen),” Manish shared in an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com.
The actor revealed that it was pure destiny that he got the role. He shared that action director Ravi Verma was meeting Anil Sharma when the latter mentioned about not getting a villain for Gadar 2. Ravi, who had worked with Manish in a south Indian film, showed his clips, and a meeting was arranged. “I was really excited to meet him and he told me that while he knows me as Chanakya, Gadar is an important film. He said that Sunny Deol is keen to know about the cast and thus they’ll have to meet him too. In the first meeting, things worked out and I was on board,” Manish said, adding that it’s interesting how your one piece of work can lead to something so big.
He further said that while the makers were in conversation with another actor for the part, it didn’t work out. For Manish, it was nothing less than a blessing to get such a big film. Speaking about stepping into Amrish Puri’s shoes, the actor said that he was ‘nervous as well as excited.’ “No one can take his place and I think everyone associated with the film, and its fans knows that. I remember when I met Sunny paaji, he mentioned how he knows I am a good actor but this was Gadar, and they need someone to fill in for Amrish Puri. He also mentioned how there are no good villains in the industry now. I just told him that I would try my best and with their support, try to deliver. I think he liked my sincerity and things just seamlessly happened.”
As rightly mentioned by Sunny Deol, with actors now attempting anti-hero parts themselves, there has been a vacuum when it comes to villains. However, Manish Wadhwa, who earlier played the bad guy in Pathaan, shared that he feels he can fill that gap. “Both Sunny paaji and Anil ji told me the same thing how there are no villains around. Once audiences watch Gadar 2, I am sure they will love my performance. So I do feel I can fill that space definitely.”
The actor also spoke about working with Sunny Deol and shared how he was amazed at his personality’s transformation during a scene. “Itna bhayankar change hai (It’s such an amazing change). One moment, he is standing with you talking so softly, and as soon as the director calls action, he is a different man. Sher aajata hai kahin se bilkul (He turns into a tiger). Sunny paaji is also so kind and generous and that side is so beautiful. I remember he had to hold my neck with anger in a scene. As soon as the shot was done, he came up and asked in Punjabi, ‘Lagi ta nahi.‘ He is the most caring co-star and so secure. He is not just bothered about his part but wants the entire team to do well to ensure the film does well. Similarly, Anil Sharma ji is also such a collaborative director, who would discuss, and ask for suggestions before filming. It was such an enlightening experience on the film’s set.”
At the trailer launch, Manish Wadhwa had touched both Sunny and Anil‘s feet, leaving fans quite surprised. He reasoned that after hearing them speak so highly about him, he was overwhelmed and emotional, and didn’t know how to thank them. He said they did not need to promote or laud him to that extent and he was touched by their gesture.
While he’s already played a Pakistani general in Pathaan, Manish assured there’s no similarity between the parts. He shared that while in the Shah Rukh Khan actioner, he was a polished and contemporary man, in Gadar, his character Gen Hamid Iqbal is from the 70s, who has had his own journey during India’s independence. The actor added that while they have the same aura and uniform, both characters are completely different.
There has always been an influx of India-Pakistan battle stories, and when asked what makes it work, Manish replied, “People still go crazy about an India-Pakistan match. Look at the reports of how the Ahmedabad match is already sold out and hotels charging exorbitant amounts. Gadar is like a match too, added with drama, emotions and family.” But doesn’t it promote hatred towards the neighbouring country? “Not at all,” he said, adding, “The whole country is not wrong, it’s just a section of people. Even in Gadar, there are so many people helping Tara Singh. It’s just the extremists that bring shame to any country.”
On a final note, Manish Wadhwa reflected on his ‘long journey’ and admitted that TV may have given him fame, cinema has been his first love. Manish shared that he debuted as an antagonist with Rahul in 2001 but no one paid notice. “The thing with films is that even when you do a fantastic role, if your film doesn’t work, you won’t be noticed. And even if it’s a blink-and-miss part in a big hit, you will continue to earn for years. Film chalti hai tabhi aap chalte ho. I remember I was awarded for Chankaya and the entire film industry was present for the event. I was so hopeful that things would turn in my favour soon but it didn’t happen for a very long time. But it was that part which got me the South film, and a scene from there got me Gadar 2. Life thus came to a full circle.”
Also starring Ameesha Patel, Utkarsh Gupta and Simrat Kaur, Gadar 2 will hit cinema halls on August 11.
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