He has acted on television, hosted interactive shows, has done cricket shows and owns production house Magic Works that created a rage with music show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. No 1. After playing Phattu Bhai in Shootout at Lokhandwala, Rohit Roy has a variety of roles to look forward to in tinsel town.
Q: Nowadays, you are mostly seen doing films, any specific reason behind the shift from television to cinema?
A: Nothing specific as such. I always wanted to do cinema. I decided to switch over to films because the time was right. I had done almost everything on television, from acting to hosting and even producing daily soaps.
The latter takes up a lot of time; you are hooked to it for 25 days a month. After that there is hardly anytime for anything else.
Q: Shootout was a huge success, do you feel that it has propelled your career?
A: Obviously, nothing succeeds like success. I am the same actor but I got noticed because the movie did well. The star cast also matters, there were many others in the movie who were senior to me. All I can say is that it feels great, much like a child with a candy in his hand.
Q: What’s next on the schedule?
A: Well, I am playing the lead in Karan Razdan’s Mittal vs Mittal. It’s a hard-hitting story on marital rape. Then there is Alibaug which is a reality-based story. Next on the cards is a comedy flick titled Don Muttuswami, with my favorite actor Mithun Chakraborty.
I am very excited about working with him, he is an incredible actor who has bagged national awards doing diverse roles.
Q: So, like Mithunda are you also interested in playing diverse characters?
A: Yes, of course. I like playing different roles. In the films that I have done and I will be doing, variety is a constant. In Shootout, I played a roguish character, Mittal vs Mittal will be different and so would be my character in Don Muttuswami and Alibaug.
Q: How is your production house doing?
A: Oh, Magic Works is doing extremely well. It was actually Mansi’s dream to open up a production house, and I actively supported it. By the end of this year, Phank will be on the cards, we will be co-producing with White Feathers.
Magic Works is also part of Dus Kahania. White Feathers is a guardian to us, Sanjay Gupta is a great support.
Q: As an actor, what’s your dream role?
A: Hypothetically, it would be doing a double role, where one guy is a simple and genuine person while the other is a psychopathic killer. But the ultimate dream role would always be playing Amitabh Bachchan in Deewaar.
Q: What’s the difference between television and films?
A: Television is a great place to start one’s acting career. It’s safe, good for learning and is dominated by TRPs. On the other hand, films are ruled by box-office results but it provides a wide range of work — comedy, action, thriller, suspense and what not.
Q: Your comments on the Sanjay Dutt trial.
A: I think the verdict is too harsh, I don’t think even the most hardened criminal would get such punishment. He was reckless in his youth but tell me, who isn’t? I guess he has already suffered for 14 years, with the dagger hanging on his head.
I think he is a very sweet guy and he has changed a lot in the last 14 years. I am not saying this because he has family, but because he just does not deserve the punishment. I am sorry, but this is an emotional outburst.
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I am passionate about my work. Being an Arian, I strive for success in whatever I do. -Jayant Mishra
Credits: santabanta