Makrand Deshpande on Shah Rukh Khan's cameo

He’s chosen to be a part of the industry as and when he’s wanted to but ultimately, theatre has been his true calling. “That explains why I’ve done bit roles in films and serials only when I needed the money,” informs theatreperson-actor-director, Makrand Deshpande. While his last directorial outing in 2001, Danav, got snubbed by the industry, it made its way to Cannes. “I’ve faced resistance from the industry and that’s what keeps me away from the audience. It’s ironical because I’m the same person responsible for 40 original plays that have been produced by my theatre group, Ansh over the last 17 years.”

But Makrand remains undeterred and an example of that is his next film, Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu. “A girl who sells flowers at the traffic signal comes face-to-face with Shah Rukh Khan. She can’t believe her ears when he calls her beautiful and before she realises, he drives away. She keeps hearing his voice ringing in her ears,” Makrand elaborates.

Of course, it goes without saying that a film with such a title would be incomplete without the superstar. And that was the easiest task. “Shah Rukh and I go back a long way — our theatre days in Delhi. I sent him an SMS and he replied back his confirmation. He later called me to say that he’d get his own car and do his own make-up too. I just needed to tell him where and when to reach,” Makrand recollects.

Theatre rules his existence and his group, Ansh has worked closely with Prithvi Theatre. In fact, he also turned one of his celebrated plays, Ek Kadam Aage, which they have been performing since 1993 and sees the protagonist play more than 10 roles, into a film, Dream Man. “For the sake of the film, I didn’t want to act. Kay Kay Menon is much more convincing on screen,” he signs off.