Yogesh Mishra | yogesh@bollywoodtown.in
Hyder Kazmi is a Bollywood actor, director and producer. His upcoming film ‘Jihad’ has recently won several awards at many International film festivals. He is basically from a small town Jahanabad (Bihar) but his passion towards acting compelled him to come to Mumbai. He started his acting career from a famous TV Series ‘Bharat Ke Shaheed’ where he played the lead role of Khudi Ram Bose. He believes that in current scenario, requirement of creativity is much more than funds in Bollywood. In an exclusive interview with Yogesh Mishra, he spoke about his childhood days, his passion towards acting, upcoming film ‘Jihad’ and more…
How were your childhood days?
I am basically from Pali village which belongs to Jahanabad district of Bihar. I belong to a landlord family. My schooling is from Bada Jamda. Kiting was my favourite game. I was very mischievous boy. I used to keep myself away from bathing. My elder sisters forced me to bath. I am a true scorpion.
How was your journey from Jahanabad to Mumbai?
My dad was in government job so he used to get transfer from one place to other. His last posting was in Delhi thus I spend my few years in Delhi where I started my career in theatre. I was officially approved drama artist in ‘A’ category in All India Radio, Delhi. I spend 4 years in professional theatre (repertory). I did my last play ‘Deepshikha’ where I was playing lead. This play held at Sahitya Kala Parishad Awardee’s festival directed by Shri Revati Saran Sharma. Mr Ashok Bhushan (relative of actor Manoj Kumar) saw my performance there and he recommended me to Mr Manoj Kumar who gave me the role in famous TV Series ‘Bharat Ke Shaheed’ where I played the lead role of Khudi Ram Bose. This is how I came Mumbai.
When did you realise first that you should try your luck in acting?
When I was just 15 years old, one day I said my dad that in future I will do business then he said ‘but for business you need money and from where will you manage to get it’. Immediately an idea came in my mind that acting is the only profession where I do not require money. This is when I started thinking of acting as a career. Rest is history.
How was your journey as an actor?
I have acted in many TV series and films. My some of the movies are- Patth, Bobby: Love and Lust, Kajri, Jihad, Rangbaaz, Bigul etc. Also I have worked in a popular TV series ‘Bharat Ke Shaheed’ where I played the lead role of Khudi Ram Bose.
What character are you playing in Jihad?
I am playing the role of a terrorist. My character name is Altaf. There was an incident in his past and because of that someone has misguide him. When he started doing wrong things due to that misguidance, later he understands the difference between write and wrong but till then it was too late. This film is actually about the journey of a character Altaf and his point of view. My next film is ‘Draupadi’.
Do you think Bollywood is going in right direction as an industry?
No. We have become copycat. Mostly we do copy of south Indian film industry and Hollywood. I am a very small film maker but none of my films are copied from anywhere.
What kind of corrective actions required to change the face of Bollywood?
Definitely revolution will come. There was a time when everybody was making comedy movies. There was another time when only masala movies were made. Now some of the sensible films are coming like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Hindi Medium’, ‘Tumhari Sulu’ etc. There are some good films also. Changes are coming no doubt. Small filmmakers like me are also coming up with good contents.
What is more important, funds or creativity?
Requirement of creativity is more than funds in Bollywood. You don’t need hero. Subject is your hero. Most of our content oriented movies are hit. In current scenario, public want the content.
