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Talk to Chunky Pandey for 10 minutes and he makes you as comfortable as you would be to a buddy of 5 years. The man still has that boyish charm around him in spite of being in the industry since his debut film 'Aag Hi Aag' that was released a couple of decades back. And now with 'Apna Sapna Money Money', the accolades haven't stopped coming for his Nepali act. Over to the man for some laughs and more!

Congrats, your Nepali act in ASMM seems to have been lapped up in a big way.
Thanks. I am absolutely at the top of the world with the kind of response the film has generated for me. Believe me, at least in the recent times I have never received such an overwhelming appreciation by means of congratulatory SMS and phone calls. Think of it, I just went for dinner to a restaurant yesterday and there are people who were actually coming over and asking me to narrate a line or two in my now-famous Nepali accent. Now acting in front of camera is a different thing while doing it in a restaurant was a different ballgame. Man, it was embarrassing Laughs!

But tell us how did this entire Nepali thing happen?
To begin with this character was devised as an Anthony Gonsalves kind of character from Goa. Then when I was roped in, we along with Subhash Ghai had a discussion on changing it to someone belonging to a Nepali origin. Now since I am so tall, it was difficult to project me as someone purely Nepali and hence the Pathan angle was thrown in. So now I was someone who had a Pathan dad and a Nepali mom. Further we wanted to get the accent right and I spent around a month perfecting it. I will tell you something more. I had something in my mind going around for years - "What if Gabbar Singh was born in Nepal?” From here I took a funny take on the entire character and situation. Laughs wholeheartedly You could say that my ASMM act was a tribute to 'Sholay'!

You could say that my ASMM act was a tribute to 'Sholay'

And your tribute indeed seems to have come out with flying colors?
I am truly gladdened by the fact and special mention to Riteish here because our relationship in the film was reminiscent of the kind that is shared by 'Tom & Jerry'. I mean throughout the film you see me chasing him and him trying to come up with different ploys to evade me. Also, full marks to his woman act. It was simply splendid and had such a big impact overall on the film. For this matter even Rajpal Yadav. Wasn't he simply too good as a wannabe Sarkar?

How are your old pals reacting to the film?
Oh, David Dhawan after watching the film called me in the middle of the night at Salman's place. He kissed me on the forehead and told me that this was the best ever performance he had ever seen from me. He was glad that I had done something where I truly changed my image completely and did something afresh with such good timing. Coming from him, it was quite flattering indeed.

David Dhawan kissed me on the forehead and told me that ASMM was the best ever performance he had ever seen from me.

To be honest, your one scene act in 'Don' too was notable, but in the hindsight what made you pick up that part?
Arrey yaar, agar film dekho to 'Don' ki bohni to main hi karata hoon naa! Laughs The simple reason for doing 'Don' was that I loved the original a lot and had told Farhan and Shahrukh Khan that whenever you decide to remake 'Don', pull me in for a part. Then Shahrukh gave me a call once the film was being planned and told me about the part. And I take pride upon the fact that I am present in the first scene where Don's character is brought to fore! That's why I say that I am responsible for the film's bohni!

I take pride upon the fact that I am present in the first scene where Don's character is brought to fore! That's why I say that I am responsible for the film's bohni!

So what else is happening in Chunky's life?
Pretty interesting days ahead! There is 'I See You' with Arjun Rampal followed by 'Fool and Final' with a whole army of actors. Talking of 'I See You' which is my next release, it is a very interesting character of Arjun's buddy. We both work in a TV station as anchors and while he operates from his studio, I am more on field. How I help him out in his love life with an invisible woman is the basic crux of my role. It's a very buddy-buddy kind of characters that the two of us play and again just like ASMM, I would be seen in a meaty part from beginning till the end of the film. Also watch out for some cool music by Vishal Shekhar; they have come up with some extraordinary stuff. Actors like Boman Irani and Kirron Kher only add on to this sharp, quick and fun film.

And how about 'Fool and Final'?
It is one huge film in the true sense, something that is expected from a Firoz Nadiadwala project. Duniya bhar ke characters hain film mein and I play a diamond robber in the film. It is yet another out and out entertainer with so many people like Sunny Deol, Shahid Kapoor, Viveik Oberoi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and so many more. The film has a very lavish look and I had a ball doing it.

How about your television stint?
'Rocky Mera Naam' anchored by me is also doing quite well on Filmy Channel and is has fetched an excellent response so far. The show has hit it off in a big way and in parties actors have started pulling my leg due to my countdowns about worst actors/performances and stuff. They ask me, "Why don't you feature anywhere in the list?” to which my reply is that "Buddy, I am the host and hence bound to get some privileges”!

In parties actors have started pulling my leg due to my countdowns about worst actors/performances on my TV show 'Rockky Mera Naam'

So are you also involved in coming up with the list?
Laughs No no, there is an internal survey that happens and I am handed over the list to host it, that's it. Mere kandhe se bandook rakh ke goli chalayi jaati hai! In fact now we are also coming up with a DVD of 100 worst actors, 100 worst movies, 100 most embarrassing moments and what not! Believe me, people will have so much fun just going through these countdowns.

Ok, now coming back to your film career, one feels that after 'Aankhen' which released back to back with 'Lootere', ASMM is the film that has been your meatiest ever.
Hey, in fact let me tell you an interesting story about 'Aankhen' too. When 'Lootere' was released, 3 weeks from then 'Kshatriya' was slated to release too. Between these two films Pahlaj Nihalani producer of Aankhen decided to bring his film too. Though many of us were apprehensive, he felt he was taking a right step. Nevertheless when 'Lootere' released, I couldn't catch it the first day since I was busy shooting though my mom watched it. So I asked her later if she liked the film. She said, "Beta, the film was ok, but the kind of 'seetis' I have heard for 'Aankhen' trailer in the intermission was simply tremendous.” This set the tone for the film's success! The film got so much of repeat viewing which made it a superhit as days progressed. Now looking at ASMM, even it is fetching a lot of repeat audience because now they know at what points would the characters cross each other's paths again.

With ASMM giving you so much mileage again, one can't help but wonder why you chose 'Qayamat' and 'Elaan' as your comeback films where you didn't have much to do?
To be honest, I wanted to test waters before I jump completely into it. There was a commitment with Harry Baweja and I also believe that my comic scientist act did hit well with the audience, especially the 'taporis'. Later Ramu approached me for 'D' and on hearing the role of a gangster I asked him if he had seen any of my earlier films. He said he did watch 'Aankhen' and 'Tezaab' to which I asked if he felt me to be suitable for a transition to a gangster's role. He answered that he believed in bringing in some shock in his films and today I can see how 'D' changed things for me. The moment I was signed, it was big because the industry saw someone like Ramu backing me up. Later he repeated me in 'Darwaza Bandh Rakho' and we all put in so much of effort. It depressed me so much when the film didn't work.

Ramu approached me for 'D' and on hearing the role of a gangster I asked him if he had seen any of my earlier films.

So how did ASMM happen?
Mujhe Aftab ko thanks kehna chahiye! Laughs Sangeeth had come to sign him on the sets of 'Darwaza Bandh Rakho' but he refused the role. Then Sangeeth narrated me the subject and I jumped on it. Also, I had simply loved 'Kya Kool Hain Hum' and thought that ASMM would be another great comedy!

With a career spanning a couple of decades, you must have seen a lot happening in the industry.
Really a lot! I have seen the 80s, the 90s and now the 00s and witnessed so many new boys and girls coming in, going out ad sustaining themselves over the period of time. The overall game is changing in a big way. Think about it, in our heydays actors like me and Govinda who were considered in top bracket used to charge around 10-15 lakhs while even Big B quoted only 20 lakhs. Aaj koyi bhi star 2-2.5 crore se kam nahi lega. So many corporate houses have come up in film production which is good too. The way endorsements and advertisements add on to the revenue is pretty huge too, something that was unimaginable in early days of my career.

You seem excited to come a long way.
Yes, indeed I am. I am glad that I am still around with people around me accepting me wholeheartedly. I am happy that I have kept myself fit even when I am in my 40s. Also, there is so much of great work happening around which means the industry is booming. Now look at films like 'Pyaar Ke Side Effects' turning onto a success. It's such a good phenomenon building up. There is an entire open market waiting to be happening!

And how does Chunky's market look?
I am getting some good offers that I am negotiating. I am in talks with Sangeeth Sivan, David Dhawan, Ram Gopal Verma and Priyadarshan, so hopefully something would materialize soon there.

And 'Don-2' is not a possibility you are counting out, right?
Laughs Oh, certainly not. I hope I am repeated in the sequel too, as and when it is made.