Love of my audience is my strength: Amol

Acclaimed character actor and director Amol Palekar in a rare interview talks on how his four-decade journey in the world of showbiz has been really special...
A sense of peace emanates from Amol Palekar when you speak to him. His unhurried manner is in sharp contrast to all those people who swear by living life in the fast lane. How does he manage to be this way? He says, “It’s been 42 years since I’ve been in the world of showbiz and all I can say is that the love, affection and respect that people have given me and my work is responsible for the way I am.
My audience’s love is my strength and if I don’t find myself compelled to join the rat race, if I am not compromising on the way I work and if market dynamics has not dictated my style of functioning, it’s only because people have given me that space to be what I want to.” The actor-director also opens up on
various other topics ranging from films to life in general...
Movie magic
While people have loved Amol Palekar as an actor, his stint as a director too has been successful, with most of his films like Thodasa Rumani Ho Jaaye, Daayara, Anahat, Dhyaas Parva, Daayra, Paheli, Quest etc getting rave reviews. At the risk of sounding repetitive ask Amol how he's managed to work on his own terms in an age when publicity is king and he says, “Today times have changed. In any sector, be it entertainment, politics, news, sports etc. everything is magnified in order to get noticed. And once you create this monster, you gotta feed it! But, I make films for a different reason.
When I get obsessed with an idea, I feel that this obsession has to be shared with the people and thus I make a film. It's as simple as reliving a pleasure, but on the silver screen.” And BO success doesn't matter? He says, “My film doing well matters. But, you can't compare every film with the collections of 3 Idiots! That's what people do and thus they are unhappy. But, I know what I've invested and the returns I've got. And I must say that my journey as a director has been fulfilling.”
My time
While the actor-director is on the topic of films, ask him what he does when he's not making them and he says, “I do nothing! And I don't feel ashamed saying this at all. Even at the peak of my filmi career, when people would ask me which films I have on hand and I had none, I'd frankly say, ‘mere paas ek bhi film nahin hai.’ That’s how I am even today.
But, in this time when I am technically doing nothing, I actually go for painting exhibitions, watch Indian classical music concerts and indulge in my passion for reading. And mind you, when reading I am not looking for a script. I am just enjoying the simple joy that reading gives.”
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