Kambli opens Bollywood innings with Annarth

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: Vinod Kambli is getting the jitters with his debut movie <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Annarth </span>opening on Friday. The emotions, he says, are just like what it was when he first played for India. <br />The cricketer-turned-actor opens up in an exclusive interview to <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The Times of India</span>.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Are you feeling the jitters?</span><br />Yes, of course! I''m very excited, and nervous too.People will be seeing me on the big screen for the first time and I''m eager to know their response. I''m keeping my fingers crossed.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Is it similar to what you felt when you played cricket for India for the first time?</span><br />That''s right. The level of excitement is very high. I was 18 when I first played for the country, and what I felt then I''m feeling now. Acting in a film is something totally new for me. I''ve worked very hard and I hope and pray the audiences like it.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What''s </span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Annarth </span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">all about?</span><br />It''s an interesting story which deals with the underworld. I play a character named Bandya, which has shades of comedy. And, yes, there''s a dance too. Preeti Jhangiani is cast opposite me. I enjoyed working in this film. Director Ravi Dewan and everybody in the unit was very nice and cooperative. Sunil Shetty, particularly, who brought me into the film industry and who was always there to encourage me. My family and friends supported me throughout. I''m eagerly awaiting my wife Noella''s reaction to the film. She liked me in the promos of the film.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Will you act in more films?</span><br />Yes, certainly. It''s an interesting medium.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What about cricket? </span><br />Cricket is, and will always remain, my first love. Right now, I''m in South Africa playing for Boland. It''s a competitive side and I''m playing good cricket. I''m a person who doesn''t give up, so I''ll try to improve my game, hoping to make a place for myself in the team.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What similarities do you see between Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar?</span><br />Sehwag is very talented. He has tremendous potential and is playing extremely well these days. However, it''s difficult to compare the two. Sachin is Sachin. He''s the best batsman in the world.<br />roshni.olivera@timesgroup.com </div> </div>