Riteish chose serious look for serious role in ‘Rann’

Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh, who plays an investigative journalist in the forthcoming film "Rann" (pictured above), says sting operations are fun as long as "we (celebrities) are not at the receiving end".

"I play an investigative journalist in 'Rann' and there is a sting operation that I do. I've never done it before in my life. But it was good fun. There is this constant fear of getting caught. But when we are at the receiving end, it doesn't feel too great," Riteish told IANS in an interview.

The 31-year-old plays Purab Shastri in "Rann", which is an attempt by the director Ram Gopal Varma to "expose the media".

Riteish, who has been mostly seen in comic roles in films like "Bluffmaster", "Heyy Babyy", "Dhamaal" and "Do Knot Disturb", has sported a completely new look in the film.

From his fairly long locks, he has opted for a crew cut so that he looks serious enough for the role.

"Whenever people see me, they think that I am going to come on screen and make them laugh because I have been attached to comedy movies and comic characters. I get a lot of mails and lot of Tweets (messages on Twitter) from people saying, 'We are waiting to see you make us laugh.' So I thought if I am playing a serious role, people should take me seriously and that required a certain look.

"I suggested to Ramu (Varma) if I could go for a different cut, a complete makeover. And I went for the shortest ever haircut I've ever had," he said.

In the film, Riteish is also sporting a stubble unlike his usual self.

Describing his rough look, he added: "Purab (his character) is a very serious guy, he hardly laughs, he doesn't even smile. I think my character just smiles twice throughout the film. He is someone who takes his job very seriously.

"If you notice, he will be wearing similar kind of clothes in the film. He doesn't care what he is wearing. He doesn't try different looks and all that because it is not his priority at all."

Riteish features in the movie alongside actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Paresh Rawal and Gul Panag.

This is his third outing with the Big B after having shared the screen space with him in "Darna Zaroori Hai" and "Aladin".

"I was very nervous the first time I faced him...But now it's fun working with him," he said.

"Rann", which focuses on the conflict between the conscience of journalists and the business of media, is scheduled to hit screens Friday.

After this, the actor will be seen in Milap Zaveri's "Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai" and Sajid Khan's "Housefull".

Talking about rumours of his marriage with Genelia D'Souza, Riteish says he was shocked to hear it.

"I was amazed and shocked at this (rumour). Now I am just waiting for them (media) to give out the date," he joked.

Indo Asian News Service