Fried and tested: Vinay Pathak

Vinay Pathak - who played an idiot to perfection in Bheja Fry - says it's an exciting time for him with a lot of interesting roles.

The name Bharat Bhushan originally belongs to a yesteryear Bollywood actor who hardly anybody remembered - that is until Vinay Pathak immortalised the character in Bheja Fry. It is one the best ever comic acts he ever played.

Pathak started his career as a TV anchor on Channel V along with his best friend, Ranvir Shorey. He appeared in minuscule roles in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega and Jism.

But things started brightening up when Pathak and Shorey teamed up in films like Mixed Doubles and Khosla Ka Ghosla, which were well-received.

Last year, Bheja Fry, which was made on a shoestring budget of Rs5 million (Dh460,000) raked in more than Rs100 million (Dh9.2 million) at the box office.

With the film's bonafide success, Bollywood woke up to Pathak's talent and took him seriously. In 2007, he made an impact by playing varied roles in films like Manorama Six Feet Under, Johnny Gaddaar, Aaja Nachle and Khoya Khoya Chand.

He has started this year on a positive note with the moderately successful Mithya, teaming up with Shorey once again.

Recently Pathak won his first major plaudita: the Zee Cine Best Comic Actor Award.

Pathak's latest TV show Ranvir, Vinay Aur Kaun? is also proving to be quite popular.

tabloid! caught up with Pathak in an exclusive interview:

How does it feel to finally win your first major award (Zee Cine Award) for your much-deserved performance in Bheja Fry?

It feels really great. I think I am privileged and honoured to win this award. I am thankful to the jury of Zee Cine Awards to consider me worthy of winning. Actually, this is my second award for my role in Bheja Fry as earlier I won the Apsara Producer's Guild Award, and though it may not be as big as the Zee Award, it set the ball rolling. I am extremely happy at being appreciated for my performance in the film.

Did you ever think that Bheja Fry would turn out to be so big?

Never, never at all! I don't think even in my wildest dreams that Bheja Fry would turn out to be such a huge success.

So is it true that there will be a sequel called Bheja Fry 2 with the same director, Sagar Bellary?

Yes. We are working on a sequel to Bheja Fry and currently Sagar is working on the script of the film. I am actually looking forward to work with Sagar again.

As you and Ranvir Shorey seem to be inseparable, does one of you always force your producers and directors to take the other one in the film?

There is nothing like that. It varies from film to film and role to role. There is no doubt that we gel very well together and bring our best onscreen. But we have also worked individually very well.

I played different roles in Johnny Gaddaar and Manorama Six Feet Under, while he has acted in many independent films. I believe signing us together becomes like a package deal for filmmakers and we are happy to be part of this deal. At the same time we are willingly to work independently as well.

Does humour come naturally to you or do you work hard on getting funny part right?

Well, I am not sure whether I get my funny parts correct, as I do what is required of me. I always try to be honest to my character and my lines and do it with complete conviction. I think basically if you do anything with your heart, it works.

What do you enjoy most, TV shows or films?

I enjoy doing both and, in fact, I also enjoy doing theatre. It doesn't matter to me which medium I am representing as I long as I am enjoying what I am doing. Currently I am focusing more on movies and have one TV show called Ranvir, Vinay Aur Kaun?

What are your future projects?

I have just completed Raat Gayi Baat Gayi with Rajat Kapoor and Saurabh Shukla. I have a film called Straight with iDreams followed by Via Darjeeling, Mumbai Chakachak and Dasvidaniya, which I have recently signed.

One of the projects I am working on will be for Warner Bros. So it is exciting time with lot of interesting roles.