For the hero, being bad is good now...

Remember the hero of yesteryears who captured the hearts of millions in the country by playing the role of a dignified lover? Well, this ``Hero'' has come a long way since then and has truly discovered that chasing heroines behind trees is not his cup of tea. But the passion for acting has led him to explore unusual kind of roles including the anti-hero character that he now plays with aplomb.

``I have been a hero for 19 years and critics wrote me off in almost every film that I did. In fact, they dismissed me in my very first film. But that film was a super-duper hit and went on to become a platinum Jubilee,'' says Jackie Shroff, who has now transformed himself by accepting negative roles. ``It is a good change. One has to be versatile, isn't it?'' he asks with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Here in the Capital recently for the shooting of the Abhishek Bachchan-Sushmita Sen starrer, ``Bus Itna Sa Kwaab Hai'' in which he plays the role of a media baron trying to reach the corridors of power by abusing his influence and goodwill, Jackie says : ``Critics notwithstanding, many of my films ran to a packed crowd in a large number of cinema halls in the country''.

Pointing out that people have lauded his performance be it in ``Kaash'' and ``Parinda'' or ``Mission Kashmir'' and ``Gardish'', Jackie laments that the problem with critics is ``they write off a child before it can learn to walk its first step. Without learning to walk, how can the child run?''

Films like ``Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai'' and ``Grahan'', saw Jackie taking on the new role of a supporter to his producer wife, Ayesha. Both films, however, did not do well at the box- office. But with films like ``Lajja'' up his sleeve, Jackie is at present doing the balancing act between exploring new avenues for himself and continuing to support his wife. ``There are a couple of productions in the pipeline. You will hear about it very soon,'' he says.

What about big-time actors flocking to the small screen? ``Probably, it is because there is money in doing television serials,'' he argues. His own television series based on missing persons has come a cropper.``I was duped by my partner,'' he says, adding he was reworking the series and probably, people would get to see a revised and improved version.

As for the crisis in the film industry, Jackie thinks financing a film has always been a very difficult affair. ``If money was available, why would producers flock to the underworld?,'' he asks, adding new trends and experiments in film financing were indeed welcome. ``However, only a big banner should not be supported by banks and other financial institutions. Small time producers should also benefit.''

Though the seasoned actor is comfortable with all kinds of situations, he still seems to be uncomfortable to public glare. When the shooting of ``Bus Itna Sa Kwaab Hai'' was on at the sprawling Rajpath, he continued sitting inside an airconditioned bus reasoning that if he stepped out he would be mobbed. Yet, this versatile actor is quite down-to-earth when it comes to interacting with people. ``I have not forgotten my roots. Sometimes, I just go back to my friends, drop everything I am doing, and stay with them for three or four days,'' he says.

Is there anything he would like to do but has not been able to because of other pressing engagements?. ``Yes, I want to get out of the city and escape to the hills or some village, enjoying a quiet life and the nice, green surroundings,'' says Jackie.

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