With around 60 films to his credit over the last two decades, Bollywood actor Chunky Pandey says: “The most important and invaluable lesson I've learnt in the past 20 years of being in filmdom is to never look back. I never go by past accolades or failures. There is no point dwelling on the past because each day is a new beginning.”
With his film “Click” to be released this week, Chunky is super excited about his role.
He explains: ‘“Click' is a horror film and a first for me. People think I always had a face good enough to do films of this genre (laughs). So now I'd take that as a compliment. Mine is more like a cameo role. I play a writer of a book on paranormal activities.”
Chunky adds: “My character is funny, sinister and unpredictable, quite like the typical me in real life.
The film is quite scary and will keep you at the edge of your seat so I suggest you take a friend along.
“This isn't the kind of movie you would like watching alone.”
In his kitty, Chunky also has Sajid Khan's “Houseful”, slated for release in April 2010. The film comprises quite a starry host of B-town actors like Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal, Ritesh Deshmukh, Deepika Padukone, Boman Irani, Lara Dutta and Jiah Khan.
Chunky will be seen playing an Indian living in Italy in “Houseful”.
He says: “I even speak in an Italian accent which wasn't hard for me to pick up. I've added a bit of the Spanish accent as well and have come up with my own concoction that sounds good. I've even done these kinds of things before by mixing the Nepali and the Bengali accents in another movie of mine.”
Chunky points out that “Hello Darling” which again will be out in the theatres this year, is the first film to deal with sexual harassment in Indian offices.
The actor, who has not won much adulation in India as he has in Bangladesh, also has a comedy “Khalbali hai Khalbali” coming up.
He plays Shyam Gopal Verma. Chunky is quick to clarify: “The character bears no resemblance to filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma.”
Ask him what his most challenging role has been thus far and he says: “It's got to be the role of Raghav, the gangster I played in ‘D' in 2005.”
The “Tezaab” actor has also judged the reality show “Zara Nachke Dikha” of which he says: “It was an awesome experience. Judging the show with the vivacious and gorgeous Malaika Arora Khan was definitely a treat. Then there was Sidhu as well. It was good fun and I hope to do something of this sort after a nice long break.”
Apart from acting, Chunky has been busy with the three-month-old “Elbo Room”, a resto-bar he co-owns with Dino and Nicolo Morea in Bandra.