I was getting typecast after `Hera Pheri`: Paresh Rawal

New Delhi: Actor Paresh Rawal is happy that he has been able to break his funnyman image after starring in `Oh My God!`, which has helped him land interesting roles.

Paresh, 62, said as an actor he was quite bored with his image as he was getting same kind of roles after `Hera Pheri` became a hit in 2000. The actor, however, managed to shake off his funny image with `Oh My God!` where he played an atheist, who sues God after his shop is destroyed in earthquake. Rawal agrees that getting stereotyped in Bollywood is rather easy as filmmakers don`t experiment much with actors. "This is one of the major problems in our industry. Filmmakers don`t explore an actor. Since I was not getting any other roles, I ended up doing similar roles year after year because I cannot say no always. I got a new lease of life after `Oh My God!` as now I am getting some interesting roles to play onscreen," Paresh told PTI. Starting his career in 1984, he has played many interesting roles throughout the `80s and `90s and is counted among one of the most expensive character actors in Bollywood. The actor will next be seen in thriller `Table No 21`, which hits theatre today. Rawal plays the role of a resort owner Mr Khan in the movie. "My character in the film has got many shades. It`s a very tricky character as it has got both the positive and negative shades. I am the hero of my script. I invite the couple (Rajeev Khandelwal and Tena Desae) in my resort and involve them in a game, which changes their life," Paresh says. The National award winning actor believes that villains have not changed much in films over the years. "Villains have always showcased the bad side of the society in our films. They have not gone through much change. They only have become more sophisticated over the period of time and now, villains are considered as the hero of the film," he says. For the film, Paresh has gone bald and says he had no inhibition in shaving his head for the role. "I started my career with theatre and when I take up any project, I look at the prospect of making my character more interesting. I don`t think whether I am getting designer clothes to wear or have to shave my head. It`s only the performance where I concentrate," he says. Asked about his journey in the industry, Paresh said, "It has always been very smooth for me. Our industry is the only place in India which does not have any set rules or system. If the person has merit, he succeeds otherwise he fails. The rules are clear for everyone." After `Table No 21`, he will be seen in `Zilla Ghaziabad`, `Kusar Prasad Ka Bhoot` and `Himmatwala`. PTI / Nanda Das