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You might have seen him on television, films, or even on a stage play. After a recognizable performance in Khosla Ka Ghosla and Water, Vinay Pathak is back once again but this time in a bigger Avatar in Bheja Fry. Here''s an exclusive IndiaFM interview with Vinay as he speaks about his forthcoming films and his acting career so far.

The title Bheja Fry sounds interesting.
Bheja Fry is not a cookery show and it''s definitely not about food. When we talk about Bheja Fry we talk about the brain getting ''pakaved.'' There is another terminology called ''dimaag ki dahi''. Now that''s not about yogurt or any other milk product. It''s a funny and simple yet very effective film in terms of the humor reaching out to people. It''s not deliberately slapstick, awkward or loud but rather very nice.

Bheja Fry is not a cookery show and it''s definitely not about food.

So then what''s the basic recipe of Bheja Fry?
There are people who take pleasure in making fun of other people and I think if we look within us, we might find that person somewhere in ourselves also. We all are human and have our insecurities. We all have our superior or inferior complexes. Our whole measure of success depends on competing with other people. I''m not just talking about careers or trade, etc. but also in communities and societies.

Did you have any apprehensions on enacting the role of a fool?
No, not at all! I thought it was a wonderful role. Any actor would give their right hand for a role like this because it is a very story oriented, subject oriented and performance oriented character.

Any actor would give their right hand for a role like this.

Rajat Kapoor says you are the hero of this film. How does it feel playing the main protagonist?
I wouldn''t consider this film with a lead or antagonist. This is more of an assemble film. But yes, I do end up playing the character on what the film is about. I''m bit a bit nervous and I hope people like me in the film.

You and Ranvir Shorey have almost formed a Laurel and Hardy comic combination on TV and films like Mixed Doubles, Khosla Ka Ghosla and now Bheja Fry. Are directors casting you together in a package deal?
I sincerely hope you are referring Ranvir as Hardy laughs. We''ve been friends and have been working together for years as well. There is a camaraderie that we don''t have to sit and plan. It''s this whole sense of freedom, respect and space that we give each other. That''s where we click as a duo. Be it television, theatre, shows or films, there is a comfort level that both of us enjoy. There is less worry and anxiety when we work with each other. And above all, film-makers get a discount when they approach a role for both of us together. Laughs

Film-makers get a discount when they approach a role for Ranvir and me together.

Your Bheja Fry co-stars are also your old acquaintances
Yes. I have known Rajat Kapoor for a very long time. We have been doing theatre for the last twelve years. When I moved to Bombay, Rajat was one of the first people I met and befriended. We do work together but he is also a family friend. We both enjoy working together.

Milind is a very old acquaintance and co-actor. We did Margerita in 1995. After a Mouthful of Sky, Margerita was our first Hindi serial.

Sarika is a new colleague in that sense
Sarika was the new person I worked with. She came in and fit in like a glove. She is a very talented actor and a wonderful human being. Apart from that she is a great cook of which I can''t say enough.

Not many people are aware that you also worked in Deepa Mehta''s Water
Not many people are aware because not many people have seen that movie. I was reading a review on Water written by Khalid Mohammed. He had written something about my character in a convincing manner. He quoted me as an unrecognizable actor. And I was very happy that day because I thought he is reacting to the character and he is telling everybody that he doesn''t know Vinay Pathak - which is great. Obviously it means that he doesn''t watch television. But it is good for my equity because he did comment on the character. He acknowledged the era that was portrayed in the film. But he didn''t recognize the actor, which is cool because if he is saying the character''s job was good and convincing, then I think I have no complaint. Finally I hope he comes and sees this film and whether he likes it or not, at least he should write that there is this actor called Vinay Pathak who has done a good, bad, or ugly job.

Khalid Mohammed quoted me as an unrecognizable actor. I was happy that he reacted to the character and he is telling everybody that he doesn''t know Vinay Pathak

With films like Mixed Doubles, Bheja Fry and Khosla Ka Ghosla are you making an intentional attempt to work in offbeat parallel comedy cinema? Or such roles come to you because you have developed a kind of image for such cinema?
Not at all… I am doing a Yashraj film as well called Aaja Nachley. My first commercial film was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. And my first ever film was Fire. I played the tour guide in Taj Mahal when Nandita Das and Javed Jaffery go there for their honeymoon. That was the first time I met Deepa. I remember her telling me that she had written the role for Jalal Agha. But then I was taken in and I was very happy to step into his shoes. Then Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam happened. And all the roles I got after that were those of hero''s friend or hero''s cousin. Then I did another commercial film Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega with Preity Zinta and Salman Khan. But then after that nothing excited me because everybody was offering me the same kind of roles. Then I did a film Jism in which Pooja Bhatt offered me a role that was considerable and meaty. It helped the storyline. So I wanted to do a film that I would get excited about. Khosla Ka Ghosla was an example. I had auditioned for the role that Boman Irani did. He was supposed to a Punjabi real-estate businessman. And I tried to portray it like a very UP - Bihar guy. Then Dibakar Banerjee liked that angle and added me on as the mediator. Mixed Doubles was a cameo that I finished doing in one and a half days. And everyone was talking about it because Anurag Kashyap added a lot to this script. So now I am doing many exciting roles like Johnny Gaddar. I can''t wait for it to release.

You are working with Dharmendra in Shriram Raghavan''s Johnny Gaddar
I can''t tell you much about the role in this film because it is a thriller. I don''t want to kill it. I am one of the five gangsters and I am also a compulsive gambler. Shriram Raghavan has been a fantastic visionary. These are all friends I am working with and so it is more exciting. Rajat Kapoor, Sudhir Mishra, Anil Mehta… earlier only my friends would call and give me roles because they had seen me do theatres or workshops. But after Khosla Ka Ghosla and now Bheja Fry, hopefully filmmakers who are not my friends will also offer me good roles.

Speaking of friends, you worked on the TV serial Hip Hip Hurray as well. The director Nupur Astana is directing her first commercial film Bombay High. Are you in it?
No I don''t fit any of the characters. So I am not in that film. Hip Hip Hurray is something I created - not many people know that. I conceptualized and developed the story and framed the dialogues.

What is your role in Manorama Six Feet Under?
That is a film I am doing with a first time director Navdeep Singh. It is the role of a very corrupt cop - and I love the earthiness that the character has. I love the humour and the cynicism that he has, and also how he appeared in the story and how he helped relate the story. It was not a full-length role but the way the character helps in telling the story is something very refreshing. So I jumped at that, I did it and I had a gala time. He has promised me another film now.

It is better to have a sane perspective on what you want to do, and if you know what you want then you will have no regrets.

Are you happy with the way your career has shaped up - or do you think your talent is yet to be recognized?
That is very subjective. I am very talented and it has nothing to do with how my career has shaped up and how my bank balance is better than before and how I don''t have to worry about paying the rent. All this is a part of life and I don''t want to deliberately stay in trouble and seem too melodramatic. I think it is better to have a sane perspective on what you want to do when you set out to be an actor, and if you know what you want then you will have no regrets. Today, if you have decided to be an actor after business school, and have decided to chuck everything else and become a working actor, then it is the biggest achievement. I never thought I would be a working actor - and act for a living, since acting is more of fun or hobby. There are very few who actually make a career out of it. That is the privilege of being an actor. You really don''t have to worry about working for eight hours because it is not hard labour. You go ahead and do one ad film and you get paid insane amount of money.