Villain or comedian—over the last many years, Mahesh Manjrekar has been approached with either of the two parts. It’s something he almost contented himself with. Until director Tejas Vijay Prabha Deoskar offered the actor, 66, the central role in Devmanus.
“I have usually been typecast in negative or comic roles. So, when I got Devmanus, I jumped at the chance. The myth that I do only negative and comic roles needs to die down. I was pleasantly surprised when Tejas offered me the role as my on-screen image is not at all of a dev manus [a God-figure]. At this age, when you get to lead a project, it’s daunting but also heartening,” smiles Manjrekar, who balances his directing and acting careers.
The thriller, also starring Renuka Shahane and Subodh Bhave, revolves around Manjrekar’s God-fearing man whose peaceful life comes undone after a moral transgression. Manjrekar notes that Devmanus carries a strong social message, something that is true of most Marathi movies. He believes that’s what separates Marathi cinema from its Hindi and south counterparts. In his signature candid style, he says, “All films want to make a statement as they reflect society. However, most of the south films don’t reflect anything. I believe 80 per cent of south films don’t require a director, as the action director does most of the work. Why does a director claim to have helmed the film? In Marathi cinema, we have a strong social message and a [powerful] storyline. In Hindi cinema today, it’s heartening to see content-driven films doing well and trashy films going to the trash bins. The star system has crashed. No star can ensure a great opening on Fridays today. OTT has made the audience more intelligent about its choices.”
