v r i j e s h h i r j e e

An actor NOT A buffoon

“If you don’t recognize me, look for the person with a Carnation in his hair. I may be hanging around some swing not a tree. And if I am scratching my arms than my advise is not to bother me at all," says Vrijesh Hirjee, trying to give us tips for locating him during the shoot. Funny, he surely is. Delivering his one-liners with a straight face, he leaves you in splits. To his joy and immense relief he was recently nominated as best actor on television for a very serious role of a killer in a thriller Govind And Ganesh. "I have been vindicated. I had hell of a time trying to convince people that I am there. It was still tougher to convince them that I am an actor, not just a buffoon. This nomination proves that I am an artiste first, one who can deliver anything," quips Hirjee. Initially, when he had done his first serious character in one of the Bhanwar episodes on Sony, the channel had a lot of reservations on his being able to deliver the serious character. "But thanks to the faith of Rasika and Vandana in me, I could prove myself," he says gratefully.

Even his X-Zone - Triple Six where he played the role of Dracula had been nominated in the Best Thriller category. "It was so convincing", he grins. Currently, he has two serials Janeman Janeman and Love Mein Kabhi Kabhi on air and in both he plays comic roles. While in Janeman Janeman he is playing the role of a very stingy chartered accountant - the type who refuses to buy a seat in the train and prefers to travel in cargo crates to save money, in Love Mein Kabhi Kabhi he’s doing the role of a shrewd businessman. "Here I play the real life character of Pravin Bhai of Sukh Sangam shop at Jogeshwari.

He is a thorough businessman. If he comes to know about it he may ask me for royalty," says Brijesh tongue-in-cheek. As for delivering the characters with conviction and punch, that happens because he normally plays real life characters, ones people can relate to. "Even if I haven’t come across them I believe that they exist. Unless you believe in what you are delivering, how can you make your viewers believe in it," he questions.

An actor to the core, Brijesh refuses to be typecast. In television, he did every effort to break the image of a monkey. From a comic character in his earlier serials to the roles of killers and psyched characters in thrillers and to playing a Pakistani terrorist in Tujh Pe Dil Qurbaan, his growth as an artiste has been poignant and continuous. "Any character can be lovable only if it is believable. That is the reason I have succeeded in delivering with conviction," says Hirjee who initially was apprehensive about joining the industry that stresses on good looks. "I thought that my physique will hamper my growth but now I know otherwise. It is the caliber as an artiste that works for a true artiste."

After his first film Kaho Na... Pyar Hai, where he played the unusual character of Tony and broke the usual myth of a catholic character in Hindi cinema, he is been flooded with ‘Friends’ character. Ashiquee, Kya Yahi Pyar Hai, Aap Mujhe Ache Lagne Lage and Mujhe Kuch Kehena Hai have him playing the role of hero’s friend. "I think now I better turn a little unfriendly. It has become an overdose of friendships. In Rahul and Tum Bin, my roles are different but I am resigning from the post of a friend now," he quips. Anyhow he is happy that with every film the length of his character is increasing. That proves that makers are finding him impressive. In films he has no qualms of doing comedy because there the range is always bigger. However for television and plays, it is big a No. "All The Best is the last comedy play I have done. I will do a comedy play only if there is a Mercedes in it for me. My dream is to gift one to my father," he says with stars in his eyes.

His next television appearance will be in in Manjul Sinha’s Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan scheduled to be aired on Zee in March. Here he is playing the role of a photographer from a small town who has evolved into a true Mumbaikar. "It is the best comedy role that I have done so far. It also has some risk because the role is a little naughty. But then what is life and acting without some element of risk in it. Watch me in this show," he persuades yoy. We will.

Neelam Gupta