Arshad Warsi recalls his 'bad experience' while filming Hulchul: 'My inner woman was coming out'

Arshad Warsi recalls his "bad experience" on Hulchul being misled about his role and facing weird costume issues. He finished the film professionally and now looks back with gratitude.

Arshad Warsi and Akshaye Khanna in a still from Hulchul

Arshad Warsi discussed the professional challenges he encountered while filming the 2004 comedy Hulchul with several other actors in an open discussion on The Lallantop. The movie was a "bad experience" for the actor, who is renowned for his perfect comic timing. He recounted experiencing misinformation about his role and witnessing his "inner woman" emerge in unconventional and inappropriate ways.

Initial pitch from Neeraj Vora

It was the late Neeraj Vora, Warsi said, who first proposed the idea for the film. The late filmmaker-actor made a very aspirational comparison when the actor was seeking big work at the time.

Warsi claimed, "There was our Neeraj Vora, sir... he told me, 'Arshad, there is a film; Priyadarshan is the director.' I asked, 'What is the role?' He said, 'Have you seen Hera Pheri?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'The role that Akshay Kumar has in Hera Pheri is the same role, identical.'"

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Expectation vs. reality

The actor agreed to star in the film because he thought the part would be similar to the one played by Akshay Kumar in the cult hit Hera Pheri. But that wasn't how things worked on set.

The narrative structure was different from what Warsi had been promised, and he discovered the truth once filming began. He brought to light a subtle yet significant distinction in Bollywood casting terminology, which he encountered firsthand on the Hulchul sets.

Deceptive narrative structure

Warsi explained, "In that film, I learnt that there is a term like 'you both are friends' or 'you are his friend.' I understood this term in that film. There is a world of difference between the two." He soon realised that his character was cast in the role of a supporting character, rather than a main protagonist.

Warsi had a frustrating experience due to a perplexing outfit, which went beyond the limits of the character. He recalled how, upon arriving at the scene, he discovered an uncomfortable piece of clothing with abnormally long sleeves.

Frustration of perplexing costume

"The sleeves of my shirt were up to here... my shirt was long... I was actually covered up to here; the sleeves were like that, very large," he said, gesturing to show the oversized sleeves. The situation turned comical when he spotted the production’s chief assistant director.

"I saw their Chief AD walk in; he was wearing the same shirt. Then I found out that this guy is my designer; he made my clothes, or perhaps I'm wearing his shirt," he added.

Mystery of oversized wardrobe

The actor confessed that he eventually had to step in because the garment was so poorly fitted and had such a feminine cut. Warsi remarked, "Then later, halfway through, I started wearing my clothes because I couldn't tell if that shirt was a nightie or a shirt. After a while, my inner woman started coming out, so I said I should start wearing men's clothes."

The "mess" and the deceptive briefing didn't stop the actor from keeping his word. He pointed out that it was difficult to hold directors responsible for story alterations because "hardbound scripts" were rare during that era.

Honouring professional commitments

"Since there was a commitment, I finished it," he stated. He also cleared the director, Priyadarshan, of any direct blame, suggesting the director might have been unaware of the promises made to him, "I don't think Priyan [Priyadarshan] knew about it either. It’s not his fault."

After acknowledging that "Hulchul was a bad experience," Warsi made it clear that he was focusing solely on the professional side of things, saying, "I'm talking about the film, not about my life."

Moving forward

The actor has moved on from being resentful of his previous endeavours and now has a thankful attitude in his life. Warsi concluded by stating, "I don't crib... I personally feel where I was and where I am now. I have no reason to crib."

Hulchul FAQs:

Q: Who was the director of the movie Hulchul?

A: The 2004 multi-starrer comedy Hulchul was directed by Priyadarshan.

Q: What was Arshad Warsi’s role in Hulchul?

A: Arshad Warsi played the character Lucky, the best friend of the protagonist Jai (played by Akshaye Khanna).

Q: Who played the lead roles in Hulchul?

A: Hulchul featured an ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles. The supporting cast included veteran actors like Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi, Suniel Shetty, and Jackie Shroff.

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