'Some mothers have told me their children started speaking in Hindi because of K D Pathak; earlier, they would only speak English at home.'
Ronit Roy gets candid about playing the witty, unconventional lawyer, K D Pathak!
Ronit Roy is back with his popular courtroom drama Adaalat, which first premiered in 2010 and aired for five years before ending in 2015.
The show's second season, which will air from June 4 at 8 pm, has quite a few changes. While the Udaan actor will continue to reprise the role of K D Pathak, Romit Raj -- who played his assistant in the first season -- has been replaced by two new actors.
Talented actors like Tisca Chopra, Rakshanda Khan and Anand Goradia will also make an appearance in Adaalat 2.
As the 50-year-old Roy gears up to charm the audience once again, he tells Rediff.com contributor Rajul Hegde how the second season of Adaalat is different. He also sheds light on his upcoming Hollywood and Bollywood projects.
You seem to have lost weight. Is it for a role or due to health reasons?
There are a lot of changes in my life. I have become a vegan. I don't drink any more.
I run 10 kilometres a day and I don’t use lift; I take stairs in my building.
Why have you made so many changes in your lifestyle?
For myself. I am bored of living an unhealthy life. I am bored of indulging in various things like alcohol, which are of no personal benefit or going to parties where I don’t know anybody.
Not that I used to do it a lot earlier but I have completely stopped doing it now. I have my business, television, films and family to take care of.
You are back with the second season of Adaalat. Are you excited?
More than excitement, it’s challenging because now everybody wants to know what’s new. The producers have spent a lot of money on my look.
The sets are bigger, better and grander. The stories are getting better after the initial teething. The trend line is going upwards. Varun (Romit Raj), who was my assistant in the last season of Adaalat, is no longer in the show. We have two new actors as my assistants. Age, combined with the enthusiasm of youth, will help solve the cases this time.
What made you come back with season 2?
Actually, I was in talks with the Sony channel head for a comedy show. But, since the audience was clamouring that Adaalat should be brought back, we thought we should do that instead.
It’s an established show. We didn’t go off air because of a lack of TRPs. I wanted to take a break because we wanted to bring something new to the show.
What happens to the comedy show?
Right now, it’s on the back burner. It’s a genre which a lot of people have been telling me to do. First, I thought people were joking but now that so many of them have said this, I am taking it seriously.
I don’t know how good I am at comedy; I'll get to know that when I do it.
Will there be supernatural elements in this season too?
One of K D Pathak’s goals has always been to prove that there is no such thing as superstition. Even the supernatural elements have always been a farce that have been exposed by KD.
There might be an interesting episode dealing with supernatural elements. There might be a baba or a tantric or something like that.
Have you come across people who have taken the reel K D Pathak seriously and asked you to solve their problems?
No, but I will tell you some real life cases. Some kids who are my fans didn’t know what to do with their lives. Today, they are advocates because of K D Pathak.
There is this one girl who has been my fan since she was a child. I am very close to her; she is one of my favourite fans. She was depressed and had a speech problem. But, over the years, by watching me and talking to me -- her parents come with her to meet me -- her speech problem has gone away.
She studied law. But she had an attack before her exams and her parents brought her to me. Later, she appeared for the exams, passed and now she is a lawyer.
There are four-five more cases like that. Some mothers have called and told me that their children have started speaking in Hindi because of K D Pathak; earlier, they would only speak English at home.
All these things are an actor's victory. What else can we do as actors? We can only inspire people and, when we manage to do that, it’s a victory.
You missed out on couple of international projects.
I missed out on playing a main negative character in Homeland and also missed out working with American producer, director and writer Kathryn Bigelow on Zero Dark Thirty. When I saw the film, I wanted to kick myself as it was a fabulous role. I couldn’t do the film because I had committed to a Karan Johar project.
I missed out on Homeland because I was loyal to Adaalat. They wanted me in South Africa for five months. Very rightfully, like in Adaalat the dates of other actors are coordinated with mine, I had to coordinate my dates with the hero of the show. I was told I could come down to India only when the hero doesn't want to shoot the chunk where I am not required.
But you are doing Hollywood films now?
I will start shoot shooting with Brendan Fraser for a Hollwood film called The Field from June 16. I can’t say much about the film except that it’s a period film portraying old Delhi. We have mix of Western actors and few Indian actors like Radhika Apte. I am not going to Hollywood; Hollywood is coming to me (smiles).
Next year, I am doing a mainstream Hollywood film with young, talented Oscar nominated actor who is now directing his debut film. I can’t talk much about that film too. He is a friend and part of my family and I don’t want anybody to feel I am using his name to further my career.
I have verbally agreed to do the role. As and when he signs me and gives the go ahead signal, I will talk about it.
You're busy with Bollywood too.
Please don’t appreciate me so much, then the hero will stop working with me (jokes).
Saath Kadam is a very beautiful film where I am playing a father and Amit Sadh as my son. We both will convince the audience as father and son. From the word go, I knew that the script was a winner. Now that we have shot it, everybody is surprised at what we have achieved.
It’s in post production but it promises to be a great film.
What was working with Hrithik Roshan in Kaabil like?
I am playing a baddie. I haven’t shot with Hrithik yet. I have just shot one scene where he is there but I have no interaction with him.
You have a different image on television but, in films, you play grey characters. Are you okay with the baddie tag?
Yes (nods his head). In Abbas-Mustan's film, you will see me in a shocking role.
In another film, you will see me as the darkest character possible.
When I started television, I was playing a grey character in Kasautii Zindagii Kay. On the other hand, I was playing Mihir (in Kyunki... Saas Kabhi Bahu Thi...), which was a completely white character.
You've been in the industry for almost three decades. How do you look back at your journey? Any regrets?
Homeland!
Honestly, there are no regrets. There were times I went to sleep after eating one pav (bread) and drinking a glass of water, but those times have taught me a lot. You get both failure and success. What is important is what you do with what you get. What matters is how you channelise it, whether it takes you forward or backward.
I don’t have any regrets.
I don’t make any enemies; for me, I am nobody’s enemy. I believe whatever didn’t happen was not meant to happen.
I wake in the morning and thank god for everything I have.
