Arshad Warsi has entertained audiences for decades with memorable comic characters in franchises like ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’, ‘Golmaal’ and ‘Dhamaal’. While many associate the actor with his impeccable comic timing, Warsi believes the secret lies in staying true to each character rather than repeating a successful formula. As he gears up for the release of ‘Pritam and Pedro’, the actor reflects on why every comedy role requires a different approach.
Each character in the comedy belongs to his own world
Featuring fan favorite characters like Circuit, Madhav and Adi, Arshad says he never tried to make them different from himself. According to him, the difference comes from the writing and the filmmaker’s perspective.Explaining his philosophy, he says, “A Circuit should make the audience laugh differently than a Gopal or a Madhav. But it’s not about me deciding to make them different. It’s about how the character is written. I have to play that character exactly the way the director or writer envisioned. That’s what captures the organic humor.”He further emphasized that each franchise has its own identity and rhythm, making it impossible to transfer a character to another universe.“I can’t make a Circuit in a ‘Golmaal.’ It just doesn’t fit. The lines don’t match. Mentality and sensitivity are never compatible. Each character has its own sacred space. You have to approach it from the point of view of the movie, from the point of view of the story, and from the point of view of the writer-director. You shouldn’t bother with that.”
Rajkumar Hirani The act of comedy is different
Warsi, who reunited with Rajkumar Hirani through ‘Pritam and Pedro’, says the filmmaker’s brand of humor is not like the usual slapstick. Instead of relying on punchlines, Hirani creates comedy by adding subtle humor to emotionally intense situations.Speaking to Variety India about the filmmaker’s style, Arshad shared, “Raju’s comedies are not like any of them. It is a very different space. It is more natural, more realistic and deeply human. I can take a sequence from his movie and give it to you, and the exact same sequence can be shot very seriously as a pure drama. and serious, and it gives a light touch. Doing that suddenly changes the whole dynamic of the scene. That’s his specialty—most people never do it.”Explaining what the viewers can expect from ‘Pritam and Pedro’, he added, “We have sequences in this show, too. There is a serious robbery happening, but in the back of your mind, there is a small smile on your face because you see something strange happening; something that is actually very clear and real. I enjoy doing all these styles, honestly.”
Why did Arshad forget how to play Circuit?
During the launch of ‘Pritam and Pedro’, Rajkumar Hirani shared an amusing story from the sets of ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’. According to the filmmaker, Arshad initially struggled to get back into the personality of Circuit after a long gap between the two films.Recalling the incident, Hirani said, “There was a time when Arshad completely forgot how to play the Circuit. Three years after ‘Munna Bhai MBBS,’ we were shooting on the first day of ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai.’ I kept looking at him through the monitor and said, ‘Arshad, Circuit nahi lag raha hai, yaar. Kuch alag ho raha hai.’ He looked at me and said, ‘Haan yaar, kuch alag ho raha hai.’ He actually took a DVD of the first film into his vanity van, sat there for half an hour to watch himself play the character, and then he got back into action.“Warsi admits that forgetting about his previous roles is definitely part of his process.“That’s exactly how I operate. You do your job, you completely forget about it, and you move on to the next one. You have to completely clear your mind to think about the next character.”
Arshad’s next outing is ‘Pritam and Pedro’
After appearing in ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, Arshad will next be seen in ‘Pritam and Pedro’, directed by Avinash Arun and backed by Rajkumar Hirani. The series stars Vir Hirani alongside Warsi and follows the unlikely partnership between Pedro Gonsalves, an old Goan police officer, and Pritam, a young cyber expert, as they investigate a high-stakes digital kidnapping orchestrated by a cybercriminal played by Vikrant Massey.Blending crime, comedy and generational conflict, ‘Pritam and Pedro’ promises to showcase another side of Arshad Warsi’s comic repertoire while staying true to his belief that every character deserves its own distinct identity.
