It has been almost three to four decades in the film industry for B-town talent extreme Anupam Kher the versatile veteran is almost 450 films old in bollywood and holds a very special place in the hearts of his audiences. Whether he is the happy go lucky friend in Lamhe or a police officer in A Wednesday he plays every role with elan. Now all set with the release of his upcoming film Special Chabbis the actor talks about his role and the experience of working with director Neeraj Pandey in his second film

Your second film with director Neeraj Pandey, what are you playing?

Yes, A Wednesday was a different kind of film. This is a different film and I play two personalities of the same person. It’s a kind of dual role and I enjoyed doing it. I play Sharmaji, a middle class family farmer from Punjab with a family comprising of 7-8 kids and on the other hand he's also playing a fake CBI officer who conducts raids conning people. It has a great dry humour about it

Akshay said that he has found a friend in you now after having working on this film?

It was nice of him to say that. Akshay and I have done many films last I did Desi Boyz but when we do such films we hardly meet for two or three days. This time I got time to spend with him. We spent 32 days with him and we discovered we had similar interests. We relaxed and spent quality time together. We have both matured over the years.

How do you feel when directors approach you for some silly roles?

I don’t consider any role small or big. It’s your approach that is important. One has to broaden the horizons. At the end of the day it’s work and if you accept it in a dignified manner nothing is small. These films help me run my house and my acting school. I also get to learn a lot from these films.

You reduced your fees for A Wednesday. Did you have to do it again for this film?

No this time I didn’t have to forgo my fees they were kind to me so now since Viacom 18 was there with them. I would have definitely reduced my fees if the situation was such but they were dignified. Wednesday has given me a lot of joy. It’s a great time to be in cinema. A lot of young directors and actors are coming up. They are all talented and intelligent and have brilliant ideas up their sleeve. I think it’s the best time for bollywood now.

What about direction you haven’t taken anything up for a long time?

I am doing too many things and to give one year of my life to a film is not possible now. Until I have a good script I will not take it up.

What about producing films? You had also started producing films with Satish Kaushik?

No we are not producing films together anymore now.

How is your Biography doing now?

The 11th edition will be out soon and that is very exciting. I am looking forward to it.

Your Hollywood film Silver Linings Playbook received eight Oscar nominations. What was the experience of sharing screen space with Robert De Nero and Bradley Cooper?

It feels great. I have a nomination for Screen Actor's Guilds awards for which I will be going on the 27th. Right now I am excited about that as there will be a room full of 300 odd world's best actors applauding for each other and I am going to be a part of it. I will be representing my country for that and we shall win hopefully in that category. It's a dream come true for me to be working with two actors. Robert de Nero is the God of acting and there's no doubt about that. Bradley Cooper has been reinventing himself. Jennifer Lawrence is just 21 and a winner of Golden Globe awards. Their discipline, their dedication, their focus is amazing. I had a great time. I was there for 30 days and though I wasn't working everyday but it was simply fun watching them working on the sets.