Small roles can go a long way

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Does length matter? Perhaps not. Amitabh Bachchan’s two-minute stint in The Great Gatsby is creating waves. While his face on the poster has surprised even the actor, given his cameo is of very short duration, it’s sure garnering attention and winning praise.

While many actors turn down films because of the length of the role, Amitabh Bachchan’s minuscule role in The Great Gatsby is being talked about not just in Bollywood but in Hollywood as well.
Small roles can sometimes go a long way. There have been small roles that have turned around the career paths of actors. Hazel Keech, who shot to fame after her stint in Bodyguard, says that a chance to share screen space with actors like Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Raj Babbar made her opt for the role. “I chose to sign Bodyguard as I knew it was a big project. Also, I was offered a character with shades of grey that challenged me as an artiste. Everybody wants to work on a project that pushes them to work and train hard,” she says. Following the release of the film, Hazel was offered an item number Aa Ante Amlapuram in the film Maximum.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui recently rejected a role because of its small duration. He was reported saying, “I would now do movies in which I play the lead and there is a leading lady. I have done enough small roles.”
Irrfan Khan also made news when he turned down a Hollywood role in the upcoming remake of the 1990 hit Total Recall. However, Swara Bhaskar says that for her it is not the length but the significance of the role that bears more importance. She did films like Guzaarish but got noticed only in Tanu Weds Manu.
Saswata Chatterjee in Kahaani, Raj Kumar Yadav in Love Sex aur Dhokha, Nawazuddin in Peepli Live, Monikangana Dutta in Guzaarish, Randeep Hooda in Monsoon Wedding, Shahana Goswami in Rock On!!, Aditya Roy Kapoor in London Dreams and many other actors shot to fame in spite of screen presence for a short while only.
“I always believe that it is important to work with a good set of people on a project that appeals to you. The length of the character is secondary. People remember you because of your performance, not how long you enjoyed screen space. I loved my role in Tanu weds Manu, and probably that’s why the audience appreciated my work,” says Swara, whose critically acclaimed film Listen… Amaya was much talked about. She will be next seen in films like Aurangzeb, Raanjhanaa and Sabki Bajegi Band.
“It’s not about how lengthy the role is, but what you do with the role as an actor that is important. While it is heartening to have a full-fledged mainstream role, we today are a part of the new-age cinema where directors and script-writers etch out second lead characters so well, that it gives you ample scope to tap and hone your acting potential,” says Priyanka Bose, who was last seen in Guzaarish and Love, Sex and Dhokha. She will be next seen with Madhuri Dixit in Gulaab Gang. She adds, “I am proud of doing those small roles since they help me learnt a lot.”