‘In awe of Vidya Balan’

Hyderabad: Hyderabad boy Sundeep Hemnaoni, who is playing a prominent role in the Vidya Balan-starrer Bobby Jasoos, is excited about the film.

“I was born and brought up in Hyderabad. I speak Telugu and I also do films here. Bobby Jasoos happened because of the producers and Sahil. They wanted a fat henchman for the villain but instead chose me because of my good performance,” he says.

A Sindhi with roots in Lucknow, Sundeep calls himself a true Indian. “We settled down in Hyderabad in 1974 as dad chose to work here. I speak a little bit of Marathi as well as Sindhi,” he says.

“Since graduating in mass communication in 2006, I have been associated with Sutradhar theatres in the city for almost 10 years. After winning the ‘Best Anchor Hunt Show-2012’ on a local channel, I decided to try my luck in films,” he adds.

“I would keep auditioning on and off, I did not want to leave any stone unturned. One day I was called for the auditions of Bobby Jasoos. After the audition Dia (Mirza) informed me that I had done well.

“I however, did not expect to get a call as the character needed to be on the bulkier side. But, after a few days I did. And I was asked to join the crew for shooting in Hyderabad.”

Quite expectantly, the actor is in awe of Vidya Balan. “On the first day of the shoot, Vidya’s humbleness surprised me. She shook hands with me and said, ‘I am Vidya Balan’. I immediately replied, ‘Who does not know you ma’am?’”

“The next day she was busy with her stylist. But, she called me and asked me to sit down. A little later she told me, ‘Your walk matches that of the character. It gives the right feel’. She immediately got up and imitated my walk exactly how I walked,” says a star-struck Sundeep.

He also thanks Dia, the producer. “I play the villain’s right-hand man. Dia had changed the physical appearance of the ‘bulky and weighty’ character to a slim and trim person,” adds Sundeep.

Currently, he shuttles between Hyderabad and Mumbai. “I recently returned to the city as I have to complete the dubbing for my upcoming Telugu film, The End, in which I play the main villain.”