Shreyas Talpade: Gender Bender

Playing the role of a woman is not an easy task for a man. But, Shreyas Talpade took off his jeans and put on a sari for his new film, Paying Guest. Directed by Paritosh Painter, the film Also stars Celina Jaitley, Javed Jaffrey, Aashish Chowdhary, Riya Sen and Neha Dhupia and is a laugh riot


What was the toughest thing to do to play the role of a woman?

Waxing! How can women go through this painful procedure? Getting my eyebrows plucked was no less harrowing. A bigger challenge was in making sure that I didn't look vulgar.

Did your female co-stars give you tips on dressing and make-up?

Celina Jaitley and I share a great rapport. She gave me tips on what may look good on me, my hair and make-up and played a huge role in helping me pull off my character.

Why did you opt for this role?

You will get the answer when you watch this movie. Every actor wants to play a woman on screen some time. It's a challenge when you take on such a role.

Did your feminine instincts show up when you were with actresses?

We did do a lot of bickering and gossiping... on costumes and accessories. Isn't that's what women fight about? Just kidding!

How did you feel dressing up like a woman for the first time?

I closed my eyes and told my make-up artist to do whatever needs to be done. I opened my eyes only after two hours to see the new me. I was petrified to see the final outcome, but it turned out to be good.

What was your wife's reaction?

She broke into a fit of laughter and couldn't believe her eyes!

Did the cast play pranks on you?

No. But their daily dose of whistling, air kisses, teasing and hugging was torture enough.

Has your perspective on women changed?

Absolutely! After working in Iqbal, I've realised the effort a cricketer puts in. Similarly, after doing this role, I've realised how tough it is to be a woman. I salute all women around the world. They have more patience and tolerance than any man, which is indeed commendable.