Upendra Limaye: I never planned my roles, just focused on giving my best- Exclusive!

The National Award-winning actor Upendra Limaye is one of the finest actors in the Bollywood and Marathi film industry.

ETimes caught up with the actor for an exclusive interview where he spilled the beans about his journey in the entertainment industry so far and more. Excerpts…


You have been a part of the film industry for a long time now and you have explored a myriad of characters in your films.
It was just amazing. I did a lot of struggle and enjoyed every phase of it. Because the struggle is part of your journey. To be honest, I never planned my roles, just focused on giving my best. And let filmmakers like Madhur Bhandarkar and Ram Gopal Verma plan something for you.

I am very happy that I got a chance to play all characters. I never wanted to be stereotyped, especially at a time when experimenting with roles. I always believe that you get films on the basis of your performance in your last film. So, it is all about your performance.



What were the kinds of films that influenced you or shaped your mind?
Not only films, I was also associated with experimental theatre activities before entering into films. So, this helped me to grow more and more in my creative field. I hold my debacles closer to me than my successful films. Because it helped me to grow as an actor.


OTT has been a game-changer for many in the industry. How do you look at this change as an actor?
During the Pandemic when theatres were shut down, OTT was the only hope for everyone. It was a gamechanger because we could watch films at home. But we cannot compare OTT with our big screens.



Name one film that has a special place in your heart and why?
There are too many films. If I have to choose one film then that is the Marathi film 'Sinhasan'. It was one of the best Marathi films directed by Jabbar Patel. This film encouraged me a lot.