Tere Bin Laden has been receiving rave reviews for its unconventional storyline and performances. Interestingly, the face behind the title role of Bin Laden is yet to be unveiled. But theatre artiste Pradhuman Singh has arrived in Bollywood nonetheless.
The actor is quite overwhelmed with the amazing response he has garnered for his debut. “For me it’s a dream come true. I feel I am in a fantasy world and I even pinch myself at times,” he laughs, adding, “I am fortunate to be here. And since the film has been well appreciated, I plan and hope to achieve a lot more in Bollywood.”
Pradhuman comes from an armed forces background. “My parents and grandparents have been in the Army and Navy. I am the only one who has joined this line. My parents wanted me to take the family path, but I was inclined towards acting. But they never forced me and respected my choice,” he says.
The actor couldn’t have been more far from Bollywood. Before he bagged Tere Bin Laden, he was working as a business developer for a multinational company in Delhi. Speaking about his association with director Abhishek Sharma, he says, “Abhishek and I have been friends since college. I was doing theatre and he was already an NSD graduate. Our first play together was Bindaas Chor Charandas, which was a hit. We continued doing more plays after that, besides a few docu-dramas where he cast me.”
As Pradhuman got himself a day job, he and Abhishek were out of touch. “However, he did ask me to come to Mumbai once, but I didn’t want to quit my job. And we were not in touch for four years.” Until they got back together for Tere Bin Laden. “First I thought he wanted me to assist him, so I was very surprised when he asked me to act.” When Pradhuman came to Mumbai, all Abhishek asked him to do was watch clippings of Osama Bin Laden. “He asked me to do a test shoot with complete makeup. And when it was done I was stunned seeing myself,” he recalls.
Pradhuman as a person seems no less witty than the role he plays. When asked whether he has any apprehensions about certain repercussions of his role, he promptly replies, “I am not scared at all. We have already shown that he is fake Osama. In fact, I’m sure that the film can make even the real Osama laugh.”
The actor was also asked to lose weight for the role. “I had to lose around nine kg. When I came to Mumbai I was 72 kg, and I had to reduce to 63 kg in a period of three months,” reveals Pradhuman.
The actor had no qualms not being cast in the lead which was essayed by Pakistani singer-turned-actor Ali Zafar. “I never expected to do the lead. As I said earlier, I wasn’t even looking at it as an acting assignment. So the whole thing turned out to be a pleasant surprise for me,” he says, adding, “I have no set rules that I must play the lead. I just want to work with good banners and play interesting characters. Once I am into the role, I lose myself. And I feel Ali has done a great job as the lead character. I think he is going to break the jinx that singers can’t act.”
While he is still basking in the success of the film, Pradhuman reveals that he has not got any offers as yet. “My film has just released. I’ve not been exposed as yet. But now that things are going good, I might soon start knocking doors,” he concludes.