Aftab Shivdasani on Setters: Those who are guilty will get offended

Aftab Shivdasani will be seen on the big screen in an unseen avatar. Yes, the actor who is mostly known for his comic films is essaying an intense role in his next film Setters. While we told you earlier how Aftab underwent training, the actor also spoke a lot more about his upcoming film, and other projects. Read on to know all the details…

Setters is about educational malpractices, an unexplored topic. What did you like about the script?

I was shocked. I have articles and videos of real-life instances of what actually goes on and my jaw just hit the ground. When the script was narrated to me, the writer showed me actual information and footage. Setters is just the tip of the iceberg. It was shocking to see how these things are executed; you will believe that it’s a sci-fi film and not a normal thriller.

Has the scam only gotten bigger now than what it was earlier?

No, it has been there for a long time. But it just gets brushed under the carpet, and because of this, people don’t take it seriously. That is the biggest problem of society; we don’t pay attention to real issues which is why corruption just gets bigger. Now it has reached a bursting point if you ask me.

Don’t you guys have inhibitions of offending some educational institutions with the story?

We are not talking about a particular incident or authority; we are talking about a system in general. Now that system is based on real characters which are fictionalised in the film. But the issue is still real. So it is based on true incidents and those who are guilty will get offended. Why should the innocent get offended?

You have been perceived more as a comedy actor. Do you think your fans would love to see you return in an intense role?

Why not? If I had done a comedy, you would have said that I can only do comedy. I have done a Grand Masti, Kya Kool Hai Hum and Great Grand Masti. But if I do something so starkly different, at least, I will get you thinking. But if I come with a run off the mill comedy, which is great for the box office, it will be just like another comedy. Setters just happened, it was coincidental.

You have been away from the limelight after Great Grand Masti. What kept you busy for three years?

I did two South films and an English film. I was away from here. I did a lot of introspection. I was just waiting for a better opportunity. I didn’t want to do anything that was not satisfying to me. So I waited until Setters came my way. I was very happy to be a part of it; it has been an amazing journey with this film. I also wanted to do something relevant and not sub-standard. Any genre that would have come to me and taken-off from my Great Grand Masti left off, I would have done it. But it took a while as sometimes good things take time.

Tell us about the Kannada film that you are doing. How has it been working down south?

The film was supposed to release by the end of this year. But it has got a lot of visual effects so I don’t know when it will release. It has been amazing; the work culture is pretty much the same. But they are pretty quick. Some of them are organized and some of them aren’t. It is just a different language, but the craft, medium, and communication is the same.

Is Tom, Dick and Harry 2 happening?

Not that I know of. You can tell me…(laughs)

Co-produced by Lovely Film Productions and NH Studioz LLP, the film releases this Friday. Stay tuned to read the review Aftab Shivdasani and Shreyas Talpade’s film gets, only on CineBlitz