Paresh Rawal: On seeing footage, knew I had to work harder

Late Rishi Kapoor and Paresh Rawal. Pic/Sameer Markande

Filming Sharmaji Namkeen has been an emotional experience for Paresh Rawal. The slice-of-life film was initially headlined by Rishi Kapoor, with Rawal stepping in to complete the remaining portions after the veteran actor's demise in April 2020. Having wrapped up the Hitesh Bhatia directorial venture after 22 days of shoot, he says, "Sharmaji Namkeen was one of the finest scripts that Rishi got. I was honoured to step into his shoes, but I wish he could have finished the film. People will love the movie."

The light-hearted fare, also starring Juhi Chawla, revolves around a 60-year-old man who discovers the joy of life post-retirement. For Rawal, the role came with a lot of expectations - after all, he had to do justice to the late actor's swansong. "When I got the opportunity to play his role, I felt a sense of responsibility. On seeing his footage in the film, I knew I would have to work harder. We have tried our best, and [the team] helped me slip into the character."

Rawal considers himself fortunate to have shared screen space with the late actor on several projects, thus witnessing the magic of his performances. In fact, he had also featured in Kapoor's directorial debut Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999), starring Akshaye Khanna and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. "I miss Chintu saab. He was a pure-hearted person. He would honestly say what was on his mind; there was no malice. His positivity was infectious."

Also Read: Sharmaji Namkeen: Final goodbye at the theatres for Rishi Kapoor