Arshad Warsi says circle of ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’ could never match ‘Golmaal’: ‘Mindset and sensitivity simply will not match’

Arshad Warsi has entertained audiences for decades with unforgettable comic characters across franchises like ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’, ‘Golmaal’ and ‘Dhamaal’. While many associate the actor with his impeccable comedic timing, Warsi believes the secret is to stay true to each character rather than repeating a successful formula.

While gearing up for the release of ‘Pritam and Pedro’, the actor reflected on why each comedy role requires a completely different approach.

Each comic character belongs to his own world

Having portrayed fan-favorite characters like Sirkit, Madhav and Adi, Arshad says he never tried to make them different on his own. According to him, the distinction comes entirely from the writing and the director’s vision.Explaining his philosophy, he said: “The ring should make the audience laugh differently than Gopal or Madhav.

But it’s not about me deciding to make them different. It’s about how the character is written. I need to play that character exactly the way the director or writer envisioned it. This is what extracts the organic humour.He also stressed that each franchise has its own identity and rhythm, making it impossible to transplant one character into another world.“I can’t do a circuit in Golmaal. It won’t fit. The lines won’t fit.

Mentality and sensitivity simply will not match. Each character has their own sacred space. You have to approach it strictly from the film’s point of view, from the story’s point of view, and from the writer and director’s vision. You shouldn’t mess with that.”

Rajkumar HiraniComedy works differently

Warsi, who reunites with Rajkumar Hirani for ‘Pritam and Pedro’, says the director’s style of humor is different from traditional slapstick comedy. Instead of relying on punchlines, Hirani creates comedy by adding gentle humor to intense emotional situations.Speaking to Variety India about the director’s style, Arshad said: “Raju’s comedies are not like any of them. It’s a completely different space. It’s more natural, more realistic and deeply human. I can take a sequence from his film and give it to you, and the same scene could be shot seriously as pure drama. But he adds humor to it. He takes a scene that is supposed to be incredibly dramatic and serious, and gives it a light touch.”

Doing so suddenly changes the entire dynamic of the scene. This is his specialty, most people simply can’t do it.Indicating what audiences can expect from Pritam and Pedro, he added, “We have these scenes in this show as well. There’s a serious robbery going on, but in the back of your mind, there’s a little smile on your face because you see something strange happening; something that’s actually very clear and real.”

I enjoy doing all of these styles, to be honest.

Why did Arshad forget how to play circle?

During the launch of ‘Pritam and Pedro’, Rajkumar Hirani shared an entertaining story from the sets of ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’. According to the director, Arshad initially struggled to return to the character of Circuit after a long gap between the two films.Recalling the incident, Hirani said, “There was a time when Arshad actually forgot how to play haka. Three years after Munna Bhai’s MBBS film,” Hirani said.

We were shooting for the first day of ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’. I kept looking at him through the screen and said, “Arshad, halba nahi lag raha hai, yaar.” Kuch alagh ho raha hai. He looked at me and said, “Haan yaar, kuch alag ho raha hai.” He actually got a DVD of the first film in his truck, sat there for half an hour to watch himself play the character, and only then did he get back into the groove.

“Warsi admitted that forgetting his previous roles is actually part of his process.“That’s just the way I work. You do your job, completely forget about it, and move on to the next one. You have to completely clear your head to think about the next character.”

Arshad’s next trip is “Pritam and Pedro”

After his appearance in Welcome to the Jungle, Arshad will next be seen in Pritam and Pedro, directed by Avinash Arun and backed by Rajkumar Hirani. The series stars Vir Hirani alongside Warsi and follows the unlikely partnership between Pedro Gonsalves, an old-school Goan police officer, and Pritam, a young cyber expert, as they investigate a high-stakes digital hijacking orchestrated by a cybercriminal played by Vikrant Massey.Blending crime, comedy and generational conflict, ‘Pritam and Pedro’ promises to showcase another side of Arshad Warsi’s comedic repertoire while maintaining his belief that each character deserves their own distinct identity.