Sarkar 2019 Exclusive: Ram Gopal Varma fought with producers to cast the actor in a key role 2019

Film director Ram Gopal Varma Sarkar One of the most iconic mainstream Bollywood films, it takes inspiration from classic Hollywood films. The Godfather The film also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Kay Kay Menon and Katrina Kaif. The film celebrated its 19th anniversary last month on July 1.

Sarkar’s 19-year monopoly: Ram Gopal Varma fought producers to cast the actor in the lead role

The film is also known for the gang of goons who are antagonistic towards Subhash Nagre aka Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan), one of whom is the character of Rasheed, played convincingly by the then newcomer Zakir Hussain. Bollywood HungamaThe actor reflected on the filming of the movie.

“It was a struggle for me,” says Hussain, “I was very keen to get a good opportunity. Ram Gopal Varma’s company was the only one that was giving a chance to newbies at that time. I was hopeful that somehow I would get in. Before him, there were one or two other companies that were giving a chance to newbies.”

On how he got the role, the actor said, “I was like, Ek Hasina T (2004). I did one scene in that film. He (RGV) saw that scene, called me and spoke to me. I was selected. He then trained me for four-five months in his own unique way. It was a Herculean effort in terms of the level of performance he wanted for that character.”

Despite being picked for the pivotal role, it wasn’t a smooth road for Hussain. The film’s producers didn’t want a newbie to play the role opposite someone like Amitabh Bachchan, Hussain said. “In a way, he (RGV) fought with the producers saying he only wanted me for the role. He said if I don’t do the film, someone else will, but it will always be a newbie. The producers were like, what can Bachchan do for me? In a way, it was like a blind gamble, but it worked out,” Hussain laughs.

Varma became something of a guide for Hussain. Sarkar Together. The actor recalled a funny incident with RGV before the film’s release. “I asked RGV what I should do next. He said, ‘Don’t do anything. Just let this film release.’ After the release, I asked him the same thing. He said, ‘Do some work, what else?’ (laughs). He said I should do films with good directors, production and roles,” he said.

Hussain revealed that he continued to play villains after that. SarkarHe was finally freed from his shackles by filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi. “Director Rajkumar Santoshi has given me a villainous role too, which was a comedy too. Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani“Then people started to realise I could do comedy as well and I started getting comedy roles,” he said.

Zakir Hussain will next be seen in the ZEE5 web series “Murshid” alongside Kay Kay Menon and Tanuj Virwani. The show will premiere on August 30.