At 53, Sachin Pilgaonkar is ready to don six hats in his latest film

He has been on screen since he was five, but 200 movies later, at 53 there is still something child-like about Sachin Pilgaonkar’s enthusiasm.

As someone who is going to produce, direct, script, act, compose and sing for his latest Ideachi Kalpana he seems to carry it all incredibly lightly for someone who has literally growing under the arc lights.

So was this a dare or something done under duress? His eyes crinkle as the famous laughter rings out, “No, no it was neither. Except music composition I have done all these tasks for various projects before too. I have produced and directed over 50 films already,” he says.

Starting as a child actor, in Marathi film, Ha Majha Marg Ekla (1962), he went on to act in around 65 films as a child artiste, before switching to adult roles, and giving hits like Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Balika Badhu (1976), Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978), and Nadiya Ke Paar (1982) as a lead actor.

He has also acted, produced and directed successful comedy shows on Indian television, including Tu Tu Main Main and Kadvee Khatti Meethi.

Besides that he also directed several super-hit Marathi films like Mai Baap (1982), Navri Mile Navryala (1984), Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi (1988) and Navra Mazha Navsacha (2004).

We rewind, going back, trying to remember who donned so many hats for any one film and the only name that comes to mind is the maverick Kishore Kumar who did the same in Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964).

When we ask if the inspiration came from there, Sachin protests , “See, he was like God incarnate. People like him and Shammi Kapoor saab one can only worship. I think even a suggestion of a comparison seems quite out of place.”

When asked why he stopped doing Hindi films completely he shoots back, “Tell me, where are interesting projects with any scope for good acting?” he asks. He says he will consider a movie on its merit irrespective of which language it is in.

“Of course it has to be Hindi, Bhojpuri or Marathi – the languages I know,” he adds.

And then he lets it slip that he is working on a Hindi movie – a sequel to the 1978 Rajshri Films’ hit Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se. Adapted from Erich Segal’s popular romantic novel Love Story.

“The new film will have me and Ranjita Kaur paired with each other in the project which will be called Jaana Pehchaana,” he says refusing to divulge any more about its plot except the fact that he will be lending his voice to the songs and that Rajshri Films was looking at a January  release.