Mumbai: Manish Paul, who’s playing Farooque Shaikh’s role in the Katha remake, recollects his experience meeting the late actor.
This one’s going to be a double whammy for Manish Paul. Firstly, the talented television host-turned-actor bagged the remake of Sai Paranjpye’s Katha helmed by popular critic-filmmaker Khalid Mohammed and on top of that he’s reprising the role played by the late actor Farooque Shaikh in the original 1983 cult classic.
Manish certainly couldn’t have asked for more as he considers himself too small an actor to reprise the late actor on screen, someone who he holds in high regard. The actor, who’s trying to imbibe Farooque’s mannerisms for the role informs, “I watched Chashme Baddoor several times to learn something from the legendary actor. His comic timing and the way he delivered his dialogue was simply outstanding.”
Paul shares an interesting anecdote about the late actor. “I was in the middle of an interview after winning the Best Actor award for Mickey Virus when I saw Farooqueji walking towards me. I left the interview mid-way, went to him and touched his feet. Farooqueji complimented me for my work and said I have a good future. This was the first and last time I met him,” recalls Manish.
On stepping into Farooque Shaikh’s shoes, Manish says, “I feel I have his blessings to play this role. I’m not trying to step into his shoes. We have changed a few things to keep up with the times and I am playing the role to the best of my ability.”
