Salma Hayek

He is the “original bad man” of Bollywood and India’s original export to Hollywood. And now, Gulshan Grover is set to play Salma Hayek’s husband in a film called The Driver. While the makers “are after his ass” not to talk about the project, t2 got Gulshan to shoot from the lip in the run-up to the Los Angeles schedule in March.

How did you manage to get this coveted role?

You know, it happened just like that. I was at a charity event in Los Angeles where a whole lot of Hollywood celebrities were there and I was the only Bollywood celebrity. And there were some over-affectionate aggressive fans of mine, who kept chasing me and cheering for me throughout the event. It had everybody turning and asking about me — who is this rockstar? Director Bill Duke was one of them. He got in touch with me through the event organisers. I don’t know whether he had already seen my work or saw it after that evening but when we met, he was well conversant about my work. He even knew that I was Bollywood’s original bad man. And he offered me this film. I loved the script and we were on.

Tell us about the character you play in the film...

They are right after my ass... they don’t want me to say anything (laughs out loud). After all I am the leading man of the film. All I can say is that I play a common man, who inspired by his wife’s drive, decides to chase his dream that leads to some hilarious and some emotional circumstances. The wife is a major instrument here who makes the husband’s dream come true.

And what a wife — Salma Hayek!

(Laughs out loud) Well, I have been very lucky with my screen wives. I had Katrina Kaif as my love interest in Boom, Bipasha Basu as my wife in Jism, Mahima Chaudhry in Souten, Manisha Koirala in Chahat and about 30 others.

But Salma Hayek is Salma Hayek...

That’s true. But honestly I have been far too long in this business to be excited about working with someone. I have socially interacted with the biggest of Hollywood stars. So it’s all right. The project is exciting for me... the subject matter, the role.

Your detractors are saying that Salma is too pretty for you...

Well, when I was cast as the husband in Jism, 70 per cent of the film industry thought it should be some hero, but (Mahesh) Bhattsaab said the film requires Gulshan Grover. I think it is the part, the role which matters.

Have you seen the work of Bill Duke as an actor?

Yes, he was in Predator and Sister Act 2. He is quite well known in America and very well respected. He has also made some wonderful documentaries on the history of blacks in sports. I am glad we are working together.

You were the original Indian in Hollywood. Now with people like Anil Kapoor and Irrfan, do you think the West’s attitude towards Indian actors has changed?

Definitely. Anil, who is an acting school batchmate of mine, was kind enough to spot me at the Oscar after-party and say: “When we come from Bollywood, we look up to one person and that is my friend Gulshan Grover, who has paved the way for all of us.” That is what the intention was. Eventually, the future talent of India will work in all parts of the world. That is bound to happen.

Why have you cut down on your Bollywood work?

You see, when you have worked for a certain number of years, in a certain quality of projects, you want a role to have a certain dignity, the film to have a certain positioning and the money to have a certain respect. Not many films get all those components right, you know. Today every few months, heroes play character roles and so the filmmakers also have a lot of choice. But I am doing very well. I am at a very interesting stage of my life. If some Indian filmmaker wants to cast me, they should do so because I am needed for the role.