Tigmanshu Dhulia gave me new lease of life, says Jimmy Shergill

New Delhi: After delivering power-packed performances in `Special Chabbis`, `Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster` and `Tanu Weds Manu`, actor Jimmy Shergill says his career has turned a new page, all thanks to filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia.

Jimmy, 42, who shed his lover boy image with Dhulia`s `Haasil` and will be seen next in the filmmaker`s `Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster Returns` and `Bullet Raja`, said Dhulia had believed in him when others were unwilling to offer roles. "I have got a new lease of life with Tigmanshu`s films. He shed my image of a romantic hero and gave me a slightly different role in `Haasil`. He always stood by me when no other directors were willing to work with me. His every film has helped me evolve as an actor," Jimmy told PTI. In `Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster Returns`, Jimmy will reprise his character of Saheb and will be seen in a more challenging role as he will play the character of a physically disabled ruler of the region. "My character is more complicated than the previous one. Here, Saheb is in a wheel chair and he is physically disabled. On his behalf, Biwi takes over the whole empire and some more new characters are introduced. It`s a completely new story and has no connection with the earlier part," Jimmy said. The sequel will see some new actors in the including Irrfan Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Pravesh Rana and Raj Babbar. "This time there will be more suspense as we have got many brilliant actors. It is always great to work with Irrfan because he is one the finest actors our film industry has produced. He is the new gangster in the film," Jimmy said. The actor is also planning to pay a holy visit to Haridwar next month with Dhulia for the success of the film. It will hit theatres on March 8. "We are planning to visit Haridwar next month when we will start the film`s promotion in North India. I visit Haridwar quite often and this time Tigmanshu is going to accompany me," he said. Jimmy is also shooting for Dhulia`s next gangster thriller `Bullet Raja` with Saif Ali Khan, Irrfan and Sonakshi Sinha. The film is set against the backdrop of UP-based mafia while dealing with the underworld. Apart from his Bollywood commitments, the actor has a decade-long Punjabi film career. Recently, he shot a Punjabi masala film `Rangeelay`, his own production, with Neha Dhupia. The film will release on May 16. "After two years, I am doing a Punjabi film. My last release was `Dharti` and after that I got busy with my Bollywood commitments. It`s my passion to do Punjabi films because I want to make it a global phenomenon. My idea is to cater to the growing Punjabi community overseas. So, my production house is making all kinds of films," he said. PTI