Bollywood Bad Man, Gulshan Grover, who has lasted more than four decades in Bollywood and Hollywood, recently released his biography. Bad Man, the biography, he says is to inspire people and youngsters to go ahead in life despite all odds. Excerpts from an interview with The Telegraph:

If ever a film was made on your life whom would you see playing your role?

Gulshan Grover: It’s too early to say which actor can play me. Honestly I have not thought about it… I hope people love my biography and get inspired and positively go ahead in life. My financial and life circumstances were difficult. I knew I had to excel in studies and I did it. I didn’t have money for food but these things didn’t matter. Nowadays children worry about not having a smartphone or they can’t go to Matheran (hill station near Mumbai) for a picnic but these things don’t matter in life. I have fought against everything in life. I went to school where I was taught in a regional language. I didn’t know a word in English, but beating all odds I went to Shri Ram College where they spoke only English.

Coming from a humble background how did your parents react to your negative roles?

My parents were upset. People used to pay condolences because I was playing a villain. But people who knew me well — my neighbours, close friends both at the work place and outside — knew it was acting and it was my profession.

Did you ever consider packing your bags and going back?

Each decision meant not burning the bridge but the bridge being shut down on me. After doing masters in Shri Ram College when I left to become an actor the possibilities of academic career were shut to me. When I chose to play a villain, I didn’t want to play hero or a sympathetic character so that bridge was shut to me.

Being in the most glamorous profession you managed to stay out of controversies?

Eventually what you are will show. If you try to hide your real self some day it will come out. I am like any other guy shopping at a mall.

More than four decades in the industry is there more to come?

I am a very hungry, hungry actor. Even after giving a brilliant shot I have gone and requested my directors and colleagues to take one more shot. I still haven’t got my due. I want more. I am never satisfied as an actor.

Book cover

Despite so much competition how did you manage to bring newness to your craft?

I have been through a lot of struggle. There were so many big names playing villains then. I pushed myself at every step; it was not a dramatic rise but things happened slowly. It was the most competitive era. There were bigger villains, more talented, far better than me in personality. I am an example of pure determination and hard work. I never got scared of giving my best in Hollywood or here in Indian cinema.

Do you feel that the role of a bad man is over in Hindi cinema?

To some extent yes. Heroes are playing negative shades. But let me tell you today I am the villain of the three biggest films being made. In Rohit Shetty and Karan Johar’s Sooryavanshi I play the main antagonist. Then there’s Mahesh Bhatt’s comeback film Sadak 2, and Mumbai Saga, a Sanjay Gupta film with John Abraham. The audiences are missing the villain and significant filmmakers are bringing me back on screen.

Who did you consider as your idols?

There can never be an idol, it’s the material that the actor gets. If you perform well, you get credit. No one can be an idol. It’s a fallacy, an illusion. Similarly no one can inspire you.

What advice would you like to give newcomers?

I would say it’s one of the most difficult profession and it’s a lifelong commitment and hard work. Having said that I think these days the youngsters coming to the industry are excellent and inspiring and far better than all of us at the job. We learnt on the job but they come all prepared. They are doing so well despite that the degree of competition is worse. Earlier we were a little compassionate but not these days. You are kicked out if you are not good. Theirs is a tougher journey and tougher life and replacements are easily available. People of my generation, and before us, didn’t throw us out — they accepted us as we were. Now you have to be so ready. Hats off to them the way they are handling themselves.