Mumbai: Barun Sobti is receiving a lot of ‘I can’t imagine you doing this’ messages since the trailer of his first Bollywood film, Main Aur Mr Riight, came out. That’s because the actor shot to fame as the ruthless yet sophisticated businessman Arnav Singh Raizada in the popular TV show Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon.
And, in this rom-com, he is seen goofing around, imitating Salman Khan and mouthing Punjabi as loud as it gets, in the role of a struggling actor Sukhi.
“We (actors) will stop existing if we started doubting our abilities (to do such different roles),” Barun reacts to his fans’ responses, adding, “I don’t talk the way Sukhi does or carry myself like him, but I do like making people around me laugh. I did that on the sets of my TV shows as well. The film is a sweet-timed comedy. But the script did change a lot over time.”
The film was also in the news for being canned. Barun says, “Filmmaking takes time and at times producers don’t get desired slots (to release the film), and sometimes there are editing and dubbing delays.”
So, how did Barun feel during this phase having left a successful TV career for films? “I am not that kind of guy… I know I will get my due,” he says calmly, adding, “Now, Bollywood is open to accepting TV actors. And, I am glad I came in at this time.”
Last year, Barun was busy with two other films. One was John Abraham’s production, Satrah Ko Shaadi Hai, which also features T’town actor Harshvardhan Rane, and the other is 22 Yards, on the life of a cricket agent.
“I wasn’t nervous all this while. But now that my film is releasing (on December 12), I feel anxious,” says Barun. “My health is much better now. In TV, you work half a day, every day. The mind gets blocked, you can’t do new things and the food could be better (Barun has quite a high metabolism!). I am getting a lot of rest now and am able to indulge myself by lying on the bed the whole day.”
