Interview: Brijendra Kala talks about his upcoming film 'Rabbi'

Brijendra Kala has spent a good part of the last 2 decades in the film industry. From small cameos to important roles in some blockbusters he has done it all. His experimenting nature and passion for acting have seen him consistently playing impactful roles in movies. You may remember him as the taxi driver in Jab We Met, or commentator Tiwari ji in M.S.Dhoni: The untold story more recently. His pleasant personality and articulate dialogue delivery add humour to any scene he is involved in. Most recently he played a role in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and the movie has done exceedingly well at the box office.

1.We would like to start off by saying "Congratulations on the success of your latest film Shubh Mangal Savdhan". How are you feeling right now with your latest movie getting some excellent ratings and viewership?
Answer - I am very happy that the audience has seen and appreciated Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. It is the love of the audiences that keeps us motivated to work. It is especially good to see good cinema being appreciated without any Headlining stars. I believe PR and marketing are critical for such movies to get noticed. At the end, the movie must reach the audience only then will our work as individuals are recognized. Word of mouth publicity is very important for such films to succeed.

2. Is music forbidden in Islam is the crux of Rabbi, what inspired you to get involved in this project?
Answer - From the very first time I heard the story, I found it very interesting. The part that was offered to me was something I was comfortable with and ofcourse it has always been great working with Rahat. The movie also has some very soulful sufi music which I think the audience will enjoy.

3. It has been seen that you usually pick impactful roles, what would you say about your role in rabbi?
Answer - I always consciously try to take interesting roles. According to the situation and with support from my directors I try and bring my own element to it. I am playing the role of Rabbi's father's friend and co-worker. My character has a desk job but is a lover of culture and art. He once dreamed of becoming a movie star. In the movie I try to support Rabbi in his struggles of becoming a musician with the same thoughts - "What if I couldn't be a Star? I will live my dreams through this boy".

4. You have now worked with Rahat Kazmi again after Identity Card, How has your experience with the director and what kind of relation do you share with him?
Rahat Kazmi is a very good director to work with. He is a "Cool" "Sufi" guy. He is very understanding and my rapport with him is great. The bonding between the director and actor is critical to the film. He allows us to improvise and express ourselves. The work environment is always positive.

5. You're being seen as one of the few bold Actors after your work in the Youth-centric TVF show F.A.T.H.E.R.S, What is your inspiration behind such offbeat projects?
Answer - At first, I was sceptical about doing a web series since I didn't know how this would turn out. But then I realized that this is a great way for me to connect with the younger generation which is very tech savvy. I thought to myself what a large impact it could have and I signed up for it. As you can imagine it wasn't for the money but it allowed me as an artist to reach a much wider and different viewer-base.

6. The team for Rabbi is a mix of young talent like Bidita Bag and Fuqran Merchant along side some cinema veterans like yourself, Raghubir Tadav, Virendra Saxena and more. How do you find working with such a diverse crew?
Answer - Yes this is true, but this is a very important part of getting the right mix of new comers and experienced artists. The casting team has done a good job to maintain a balance. We get involved with the people we work with since for the days of the shoots we are together from morning till night. It is also an opportunity for new comers to the industry to interact with us and get a better idea of things.

7. Many young actors want to make a career by doing meaningful cinema as opposed to the glamorous Bollywood, What is your message to them?
Answer - There are 2 things I firmly believe first is always be patient, only then can you succeed in Bollywood. Second know your work, there is no substitute to this. Only if your work is good will you be able to survive. It can take 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years or even more for the right opportunity to come in your life but on that day you must be able to deliver your best performance. Be ready to start small, till today, whenever I get an opportunity, even if it is just for one single scene in a movie all I do is check my Calendar. If I am free on the day I Never say No to work.