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He is a young politician with corrupt intentions but we loved him all the same. Sonu Sood aka Chhedi Singh in a candid chat with t2 on Dabangg.
Dabangg is a blockbuster! Did you see it coming?
Actually yes, but not in such a big way. I knew that the film was bound to work and I even told Arbaaz (Khan, the producer) that it was destined to create box-office magic. I got really positive vibes about the film and all the people on board. The script apart, the effort that everybody from the cast to the crew put in was infectious.
Was it difficult being Chhedi Singh?
Not really. I have lived with people from Bihar during my engineering days in (YCCE) Nagpur. The way my Bihari roommates would behave, their body language, their fights after a couple of drinks all came to me naturally! In Yuva too, where I played a Bihari (Abhishek’s elder brother), in my very first shot I had the language right.
So you didn’t really need much homework for Chhedi Singh...
I did watch a couple of Bhojpuri films to get the use of the language and various other nuances right. You will see they never pronounce ‘sh’, it’s always ‘s’. So I made sure that I used only ‘s’ through the film.
What makes Chhedi Singh memorable?
He is a very unpredictable guy and quite funny too. He gets so excited about Munni (Malaika Arora Khan) and yet he is tough and owns an akhaada. When the priest calls him a villain he gets upset and hits him with a coconut — “Bachpan se hum apne aap ko hero samajhte hain, aap humko villain bol rahein hain?” (Laughs out loud)
Which was your favourite punchline?
“Kanoon ke haath aur Chhedi Singh ki laath dono bahut lambi hai bhaiyaa” actually came from me. As kids we have grown up with films where we were repeatedly told ‘Kanoon ke haath bahut lambe hain’. So once during dinner with Arbaaz I told him, ‘Kanoon ke haath aur Sonu Sood ki laath bahut lambi hai.” Arbaaz loved it and suggested it to Abhinav (Kashyap, the director)!
And what about Salman’s patent threat — “Itni chhed karenge ki confuse ho jaoge ke saans kahaan se le aur paade kahan se”.
I initiated that line too. (Grins) Salman improvises a lot on the set. So when he and I were shooting our first scene together, I suggested why not say something about chhed and Chhedi Singh?
How was it working with Salman Khan?
I had a great time working with him. I worked out with him in the gym too. He told me, “I have not seen such a hardworking guy in the last 21 years of my career. I feel like working out again after looking at you!” Salman used to keep saying that a non-vegetarian diet helps grow muscles better. I have been vegetarian all my life, but I tried chicken for him.
Which is your favourite song in the film?
Munni badnaam hui! There is no choreography. Farah (Khan) told us to have fun and go with the flow. There’s an uncle of mine in Indore who had never danced in his entire life. When forced to dance at a wedding, he did this out-of-sync scooter move. I imitated it in Munni and just went with the rhythm of the song. Those off-camera were rolling on the floor (laughs).
Is it true that you were the first choice for Chulbul Pandey?
Yes. When Abhinav started writing the script, he told me about this role of a corrupt cop that he would like me to do. But such a script needs a big budget. Then Salman stepped in and things started rolling and he fitted into Chulbul Pandey. And I became Chhedi Singh and that was as exciting.
‘Singh’ plays an important role in your career graph?
Actually now that you tell me, yes it does. I played Gopal Singh in Yuva, Lucky Singh in Singh Is Kinng and now Chhedi Singh. In fact, my first film was Bhagat Singh. Singh toh ban gaya bas king banna baki hai (laughs).
What will you be seen in next?
I will be in the sequels of both Singh Is Kinng and Dabangg. Then there is Buddha produced by Ram Gopal Varma where I share screen space with Amitabh Bachchan. I am looking forward to that project and some great screen chemistry.
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