Inaamulhaq: I want to experiment, but Bollywood doesn’t provide me with good opportunities

Actor Inaamulhaq, who features in recently released Netflix web series ‘Hasmukh’, in an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble opens up about his role in the series and why there’s so much gap in his projects. The actor-writer also shares his displeasure over the content offered by Indian OTT platforms as compared to their international counterparts.

You have seen him in critically acclaimed films like ‘Filmistaan’, ‘Airlift’ and ‘Jolly LLB 2’, Inaamulhaq is a gifted actor and he has always been in search of content that engages the audience rather than just entertain them.

He is currently seen playing the role of Daroga in ‘Hasmukh’. Ask him what made him take up this unusual and amusing role, he replies, “The show is a comic thriller. Nikkhil Advani has produced it and I have already done ‘Airlift’ and ‘Lucknow Central’ with him. He called me just five days before the shooting and asked: “It’s a small role will you do it?” Being a method actor, it was difficult for me to take up the role on such short notice. But then, Nikkhil sir went on to share that Daroga hails from Saharanpur and that’s my hometown so that made it easier for me to play this role or else I would have declined it. I grew my beard in five days and that was all the prep I could do for it (laughs). He is a very interesting and jolly character. Most of his dialogues rhyme. I incorporated my childhood memories and even wrote my own punch lines. The role is not that prominent one but then it all depends on how you make it memorable.”

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He further adds, “Even though mine is just a guest appearance(in Hasmukh), I have tried my best to make it a memorable character. People still remember my small role in ‘Jolly LLB’. So my only aim is not to repeat myself as an actor, but in Bollywood, it’s the other way round. Here, if you do something good, people will ask you to keep repeating it. I want to experiment and explore as an actor but here I don’t get that opportunity. That’s why you see such huge gaps in my projects.”

Owing to the Covid-19 situation, OTT platforms are currently enjoying huge popularity. So when asked if he thinks these OTT platforms will surpass cinema, the ‘Airlift’ actor shares, “Nothing can surpass cinema. This is just a temporary phase. OTT platforms are also great, as it provides an opportunity to everyone but we are ruining even that as well. We Indians follow the herd mentality. If one thing works, then every other filmmaker ends up milking the same subject. There’s no quality control. Just compare Netflix’s international and Indian content. There’s a vast difference in their quality.”

 

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A post shared by INAAMULHAQ (@inaamulhaq_official) on Oct 5, 2018 at 7:19am PDT

Expressing his displeasure over the kind of content Indian OTT platforms are offering, the actor laments, “Earlier we had great shows like ‘Neem Ka Ped’ on Doordarshan. Then began the Saas Bahu race and we all know what happened next. So people who ruined the quality of Indian television are the same who are being hired to head these OTT platforms. Channel se Netflix pe aa jaane se aapka IQ thode hi badal jayega? These platforms should hire heads whose IQ matches theirs’ or else at least train the current ones to learn how shows like ‘Money Heist’ and ‘Fauda’ are being made. We need a big change. Either these platforms should hire sensible people or else train the current ones to match the international standards, I guess that should serve the purpose.”

Coming back to his series ‘Hasmukh’, recently Delhi High Court has refused to grant interim stay on it. Earlier a plea was filed against the series claiming that it maligned the reputation of lawyers.

Also Read: ‘Nakkash’ stars Sharib Hashmi and Inaamulhaq’s EXPLOSIVE interview on religious controversies

Pooja Sharma

Cinephile. Bibliophile. Pluviophile. Selenophile. Autophile. Aesthete. Blood group- Tea positive. Poetry lover. Sucker of rom-coms.

PS: Sharmaji ki Ladki sucks at writing bios.
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