Ali Asgar: I want to be challenged as an actor

Actor-comedian Ali Asgar's popularity as a flamboyant grandmother from Comedy Nights with Kapil is his most famous performance but the actor says he is ready to ditch the costume if given a challenging role. The actor the success of 'Dadi' has been a blessing but also limited to a certain extent.   

"An image is being built about me that I like doing only female characters and that it is my comfort zone. The day I get an exciting role, I will leave this (female) costume. I am hungry for good roles. I want to be challenged as an actor, I want to work hard on a character," Ali told PTI. 

The actor said he has no complaints that female characters have become his identity but breaking out of a set image is important for him.

"..I am not complaining, I don't want to blame anybody. I keep acting in films, I did one called 'Amaavas', it will release in January, I did Judwaa 2, hosted award shows, where I am Ali Asgar playing different male parts.

"Only because people are saying I am playing female parts doesn't mean I take up daily soaps, where I would get to play a male character. I don't want to do that," he said.

Citing example of a show called Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle, a sitcom, where he played the role of a gangster, Ali said the idea sounded good on paper but failed in its execution.

"It was a bad experience in terms of content. I used to force myself to go on shoot. I don't want to repeat that. I don't want people to say that my work was not good."

The actor is back to playing a female character yet again in a standup-comedy and talk show "Kanpur Wale Khuranas", headlined by Sunil Grover.

"In a reality show the format more or less remains the same. In this new show, the family tree is different. The relationship between the characters is different and that makes the show interesting and creates laughter. Also, this time I am playing a male character as well on the show," Ali added. 

The Star Plus show is scheduled for eight episodes and began airing from December 15.