Bagging the role of Subhas Chandra Bose in Shyam Benegal's Netaji brings positive tidings for Sachin Khedekar.

The under-rated actor of who director Mahesh Manjrekar says, "Put Sachin in any role and he does not stand out. That is his special ability. He simply blends into whatever he plays -- be it Sanjay Dutt's affable gangster friend in Hathyar or the avaricious builder in my forthcoming Praan Jaye Par Shaan Jaye. I don't think Tabu's performance in Astitva would have worked were it not for Sachin's supremely supportive performance as her husband."

Tell modest Khedekar about Manjrekar's compliment and he smiles. "I have been around a while. I used to do a lot of television three years ago. Frankly, I got bored with my goody-goody image. Also, I feared overexposure on television. Earlier, there were directors like Ravi Rai and Lekh Tandon who made an effort to be different. Now we just have executive directors who simply execute what channels tell them. I would not know where to fit into the saas-bahu scenario."

He owes his recognition as an actor to Ravi Rai. "I did Imtihaan, Sailaab, Thoda Hai Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai and Teacher with Ravi. These are the milestones during my four years on television. I feel sad about what is happening on television now. People like Ravi Rai, Renuka Shahane and I were active when Indian television could have gone into a mature direction. That dream has been destroyed. Certain software manufacturers have turned serials into a labour industry churning out serials on a conveyer belt."

He moved on to films. "Guddu Dhanoa's Ziddi was my first Hindi film. I played Sunny Deol's brother. Then I did Abbas-Mustan's Baadshah where they wanted my clean image to create a shock among viewers when I finally turn out to be a villain. That was fun. I can play a full-fledged villain given a chance. Recently, I played Jugal Hansraj's father in Hum Pyar Tumhi Se Kar Baithe because I find the Rajshris good people to work with. My colleague Anup Soni and I felt that time had come to a standstill while we shot for the film. The Rajshris' belief in their cinema is so strong that no one can dispute their convictions. I am doing another Rajshri film -- the one Kajol's sister Tanisha was eased out of after 70 days of shooting. I play the heroine's father."

Isn't he too young to be playing father's roles? "When Kunal Kohli asked me to play Kareena Kapoor's father in Mujhse Dosti Karoge," he says, "I asked him to turn the character into Kareena's elder brother since the other parents were played by another generation of actors like Kiran Kumar and Satish Shah. Kunal reasoned with me that 'Kareena plays a 17 year old and you are 40. You will pull Kiran and Satish's age down and they'll pull your age up.' But I loved playing Kareena's father. She is really good in front of the camera. She is criticised for her attitude but I found her extremely sweet and forthright."

He is also full of praise for Divya Dutta. "She plays my niece in Netaji. I have also worked with her in Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaaye. No other actress could have done what she has in this film. Like me, Divya has kept her commitment as an actor alive in spite of working in an industry that thrives on compromises. I have been simmering with discontent for years. Most of the time, my costars are not with me on the sets mentally. Dr Shriram Lagoo once said that an actor should be judged by his worst rather than best work. So many actors like Anupam Kher and I have been caught in mediocre projects. To hold your head high in such films is tough."

In his latest release, V K Prakash's Freaky Chakra, he plays a lonely hypochondriac and pervert who calls a widow [played by Deepti Naval] every night. "I think Shyam Benegal would freak out if he saw me in that film!" he grins. "I play such a pathetic character. We worked out my character Sundaram's body language, speech and attitude. At first, I was very uncomfortable with my character's inner world. Soon I got a hang of it."

The actor says seeing less deserving actors race past him has always saddened him. "When I look at A-grade projects in Mumbai I understand the need to cast big stars because they bring in the money. We had ten stars ruling the box-office for ten years. Now their offspring are trying to do the same. How often have I heard a producer tell me, 'I know you are a good actor but I need to cast a star.' I analysed this and came to the conclusion that for filmmakers, it's a bigger challenge to cast a star rather than an actor. If it is an actor, he walks away with all the credit. Ever since I realised this, I have been at peace with myself."

He was chosen over other contenders like Madhavan, Paresh Raval and Jackie Shroff for the role of Netaji. "I think my face did the trick," he chuckles. "In terms of physical resemblance, I come closest to Netaji. I don't need much makeup to resemble him. I have just cut my hair. This is the first time I am working with Shyambabu. Whether it is Govind Nihalani or other eminent directors, they have their clique of actors. Renuka once joked there is no room for us in those films because we are too fair and prosperous looking."

He admits he approached Benegal for the role. "Shooting a Gujarati film last year, [cinematographer] Rajen Kothari asked me to meet Shyambabu who was looking for actors to play Netaji. He was keen on casting Paresh Raval. In fact, Paresh's name was splashed all over for Netaji's role. I think Shyambabu was extremely comfortable with Paresh ever since he saw him in Sardar Patel."

"Since the role required a 40-ish actor, finding someone fresh was a problem," says Khedekar. "They wanted someone capable and not very popular. That is how I fit the bill! I did not realise that if I shaved off my moustache, I would resemble Netaji so much. When I did a photoshoot without my moustache, I came out just right for the role. My five-year-old son was shocked to see me without a moustache."

The film went on the floors on January 23. "I was finalised a month before that but was not supposed to talk about it. I went through all the material about the Indian National Army which Shyambabu had collected and met Netaji's family. Shama Zaidi and Atul Tiwari's script is foolproof. We shot on a set at New Theatres in Kolkata. In March, we will shoot in Uzbekistan [which will stand in for Afghanistan], Ladakh, Germany, Burma and Malaysia. We wanted to shoot in the Presidency Jail [Kolkata] for a day but were given only two hours. I don't blame them. With 200 convicts and January 26 around the corner, a whole day of shooting seemed impractical."

He is hopeful that Netaji will give him his big break. "Deep in my heart, I feel this is it provided we do the job well. This film will open doors for me. Shyambabu is an icon. He does not burden the actor with too many instructions. He gives just one or two precise instructions and leaves the rest to the actor. In 15 years as an actor, I have never shared such a great comfort level with any director."