Hindi is a difficult language: Omi

The role of Chatur Ramalingam in “3 Idiots” was a dream debut for Omi Vaidya in Bollywood, except that he’s no more referred to by his real name. He’s Chatur in Bollywood, Chatur on the streets, and even Chatur on the sets of ‘Chhote Ustad’, the musical reality show he’s co-hosting.
But the actor doesn’t find the moniker limiting, at least not for the moment. He says, “Just to get a chance to make it with these people who are stars and sons of stars, and to make a name for yourself is pretty rare.It’s nice to get that, any way you get it. People like Chatur a lot and they don’t know who Omi is because there haven’t been many opportunities to show Omi as he speaks bad Hindi. Since people enjoy the character, I do a bit of it even on the show.”
But, the next projects that Omi is taking up are going to change that. “The next films that I do are not Chatur at all. I am doing some full on Indian guy roles. In Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji”, I’m essaying the role of a kolhapuri guy and have Marathi dialogues and no accent. Later in the year, I am also doing Abbas-Mastan’s remake of “The Italian Job” with Abhishek Bachchan and Neil Nitin Mukesh.”
But, for that, Omi is working hard on his accent. “At the moment, since I’m not very good with Hindi, whatever I do reminds people of Chatur. But, I’m taking lessons in Hindi. You know, I want to know what I am saying. But, Hindi is a difficult language. I am taking lessons whenever I am not on the sets, which is almost always.”
In the midst of all the work and lessons, Omi misses his family quite a bit too. He says, “I’m here for the time being and my wife and family is in LA, so I go back and forth. They find this situation both good and bad. I am able to make some money and am getting recognition. But in the same way, I have disappeared from their world, which becomes difficult.” Even though Omi has been coming to India every summer since his childhood days and he’s familiar with the ways of the country, he says that he finds it hard to stay away from his family.
One reason could certainly be alienation. He says, “People on the streets recognise me, but it’s not to a crazy level. That’s the way I like it. People notice me, get excited and that’s really nice. Recently, I was going somewhere when a few guys in a car rushed past me and screamed in Hindi about my haq to live. That was really sweet; it was just a tapori way of saying that you have done something nice and have a right to live.” But, there are things he does feel bad about. He says, “It’s difficult. I’m not from the industry, I don’t know people, I’m not someone’s son, but I do my best. I work the hardest on my scenes.”
Even then, there’s a certain pinch about being different. “I feel a little different, but I guess that’s why people like me. There are always pros and cons of being different. Since growing up I have been different. Growing up in America as an Indian has always been a problem, trying to search for my identity, but now being different has made me so special. This is ironic. But now I just enjoy being myself. That’s all one can do.”
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