Bollywood actor Sikander Kher says he is excited to play a negative role for the first time in his career in TV-debut series "24".
Starring Anil Kapoor, "24" is a drama based on the American series of the same name. Sikander, who is part of the upcoming second season of the show, says the character he plays is something which he has never attempted.
"I am playing a negative character in the show. I am thrilled as it is completely different, something which I haven't attempted before. Shooting it was great fun and I had a good time on the sets. Now I am waiting for the audience's reaction," Sikander told PTI.
The 34-year-old actor made his Bollywood debut with "Woodstock Villa" in 2008 and went on to work in films like "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey" and "Players".
Sikander says his parents, veteran actors Anupam Kher and Kirron Kher, do not interfere in his work.
"My parents are actors too and they don't interfere with my work. We do discuss films with each other, I tell them about the role I am playing, the film I am a part of, but they never meddle with that. They advice me about general things but never specifically on films. They leave that decision to me," he said.
Sikander will be next seen in Abhishek Sharma's satirical comedy "Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive". In the film, he plays a white man who comes to India on a secret mission, disguised as a Punjabi film producer.
"I had to do a 15-day workshop. There was no apprehension as such, I never over-think about my work. I had a director like Abhishek who had a great vision and was very clear what he wanted out of me. I had people like Manish and the entire team with me which was just fantastic," he said.
The actor also got engaged to girlfriend Priya Singh recently. She is the daughter of interior designer Kavita Singh and businessman Jasjit Singh. Priya and actress Sonam Kapoor are cousins as their mothers are sisters.
Sikander, however, said no date has been finalised yet for the marriage.
"Neeraj is a magician", says Kher, "It is his fourth
film. I've been part of all four and all of them different are from each one, and in all of them, he has presented me differently".
In the biopic of Dhoni, Kher plays the father of the Indian cricketer, who is played by actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
When the actor met Pan Singh Dhoni, he realised he had to lose weight to fit the character and underwent a "personal journey", without trying to "observe" anything from him.
"I didn't do that because this is not a father I didn't know. My father was like that, friend's father was like that. I've seen so many middle class, lower middle class fathers who are very ordinary people.
"The most difficult thing in the world is to play an ordinary person on camera. Because there are no theatrics, you have to be bring out your drama, pathos, strengths without any outburst."
The actor is all praise for Dhoni's family, who he met and interacted with during the course of the film.
"His referring to his son constantly as 'Mahiya' was very endearing. Dhoni hasn't changed at all. There may be a Hummer outside his house, but it doesn't matter even if there is an aircraft or a cycle outside. His mother and father are very sweet, simple and nice people."
"MS Dhoni: The Untold Story" releases on September 30.
