It "Was Difficult" To Get Good Work A Few Years Ago: Paresh Rawal

"Earlier, we would plagiarise foreign stories and then later they would file cases against us. Now that doesn't happen," said Paresh Rawal

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal is thrilled that Bollywood is now chronicling untold stories rooted in the country and not "plagiarising" international films, a trend, he said, was dominant until a few years ago. The 66-year-old, who has been working in the industry for close to four decades, said the new crop of filmmakers have infused a certain freshness in Hindi cinema. Paresh Rawal particularly cited the Ayushmann Khurrana's dramedy Badhaai Ho! (2018) and this year's Netflix film Pagglait, fronted by Sanya Malhotra, as examples of novel storytelling. "Earlier, we would plagiarise foreign stories and then later they (the original makers) would file cases against us. Now that doesn't happen. So now we are focusing on our homegrown stories, which are far more superior, dramatic and challenging. Stories like Pagglait, Badhaai Ho! are wonderful examples," Paresh Rawal told PTI. The change in Bollywood has also allowed artistes a chance at consistent quality work, he said. Citing how the industry today has a far more organised system today, the actor, who has himself been an integral part of several landmark shifts, said there are not just good stories but also better storytellers. "It was difficult a few years ago to keep getting good work but not anymore. Hindi cinema has been going through a golden phase since the last five-six years. There are new writers, directors, actors, and a disciplined finance sector. (The) work is finished in the given time frame and delivered." From the dramatic films of the '80s, where he was mostly slotted in negative roles, the '90s when Paresh Rawal started to emerge as a bankable performer with Sardar and the National Award winning Woh Chokri to the 2000s, when he switched to comedies with Hera Pheri, the actor has time and again proved his versatility. Paresh Rawal said his major turnaround happened with Ketan Mehta's Sardar in 1994, where he featured as freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.