A national award winner yet Ashish Vidyarthi isn’t a super success. After a bright beginning with films such as Sardar, 1942: A Love Story, Is Raat Ki Subah Nahi and Droh Kaal, for which he won the national award, Ashish was then lost in the wilderness of shabby films. There were exceptions like Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai and Vaastav, but the world never go to see him play to his true potential.
With not much at stake in Bollywood, Ashish took refuge in south Indian films. Down south he met with success and soon he was a star for its people when he still doesn't understand their language.
The 42-year-old actor now returns to his roots as he reopens a new chapter in his Hindi film and television career. Ashish has been roped in by television's iconic bahu Smriti (Tulsi) Iraani for her new show Waaris.
Tellychakkar caught up the actor on the sets of Waaris
Isn't Waaris your comeback to limelight?
Yes, it's a comeback but a comeback to the audiences who watch films and TV in Hindi. I'm returning to the Hindi fold after seven years and a return to TV after nearly nine years. Incidentally, my last TV show Dastaan was also on Zee TV.
We've hardly seen you in Bollywood. Where have you been all this while?
That true, I reckon I've done about just 2-3 Hindi films in the last seven years. All this while, I've been working down south. I've done about 72 films in various languages and have created a niche for myself in all these languages.
How has television changed since you were in it last time?
Television is completely altered. It's not the television that I knew but that's all right. TV has become much bigger and thats what makes me most comfortable.
But has TV changed for the better?
I don't know. Hopefully, Waaris will make it better.
Is Waaris similar to Sarkar?
Waaris is a story of a family whose primary business is unknown to most members of the family. There is lot of love and fun in the family but the father is worried who is next after him. I leave it to you what similarities do you find. Waaris is a story which most families deal with – who to pass on the reigns. I play the character of the father Rudra Pratap.
But isn't your attire similar to that of Amitabh in Sarkar?
Yes that's true but I don't know whether this is a drawback or the show's USP but we believe it's a kind of project which is very engaging. If the people don't like it, we'll make it better.
Such subjects go against the popular trend on television. It's still the saas-bahus who rule the roost.
The subject doesn't have violence. It's only a few people in the family that have that business. Having said that somebody will have to bell the (saas-bahu) cat. Nobody is saying that this is how Indian television should be. Waaris is a different story but it does have family values too.
You're working for a producer whose earlier shows haven't yielded much result. Were there any apprehensions in working for Smriti Iraani?
I'm clear in my mind that Waaris will alter that reality which is existent till now for Smriti's Ugraya productions. This is not a half-hearted effort on Smriti's part to make something different. Waaris has some wonderfully poignant scenes and it's beautifully scripted.
But the scripts change in accordance with the TRPs. Is an actor's future never secure in a TV show?
One thing that I've told everyone is that I'm not going to play a saas - though, you will see me as a sasoor (father-in-law) – I know I'm going to die. A lot of things will happen which will be for the benefit of the viewers. It there is love then it remains. But I'm clear that we are here to stay and cater to a niche audience; an audience which likes stories of human interest.
Are you happy with the time slot (11.00 pm)?
I love it because that's the time we've got and we've got to make the most of it. (Laughs)
Honestly, I really don't know as I haven't watched television for many years. My friends though say that they find it convenient as that's the time they're free at home. However, we'll find it out in a couple of weeks.
Your last few films hardly project the Ashish Vidyarthi that we know. Has Bollywood forgotten Ashish Vidyarthi?
I was doing the good roles seven years back. Thereafter, there was a forgettable period. I then realised that this wasn't working for me, so the first step that I took was that I started saying no till the point that I was left with no work. I never wanted to be in a position where a journalist would ask me why are you doing such a role. However, I had a family to feed its then that I decided to have a career in the south.
But did working in south Indian films offer you much creativity?
It offered me the creativity of working in Tamil, Telegu, Kannada and Malayalam; all four languages which I still don't know. It offered me the challenge whether I could work in linguistic films. Earlier, I was known as an actor in Hindi but down south people accepted me as one of their own.
However, this has also been a period of penance for me. Not doing films in Hindi and people would often say that have you quit the industry or are settled in south India. But as an actor, you always go through such scrutiny. There is lot of fun and lot of pain as well but it's worth the while.
How do we summarise Ashish Vidyarthi's career?
Don't summarise me as yet