There are some characters that stay with you for life and Kachra from Lagaanis one of them. Even after 20 years of Lagaan, Aditya Lakhia is knownas Kachra but he has no complaints.
Meet Aditya Lakhia the man who¡¯s been in the industry for 35 years,worked in more than 40 films, but his claim to fame remains only one characterand that is Kachra.
To begin with we asked Aditya if he ever thought Kachra would become acult. zgoing back to memory lane, Aditya recalls how he bagged that role,?
¡°I knewAshutosh and Aamir way before Lagaan. I worked with them in Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander.I also assisted Ashutosh in his first song Pehla Nasha.?
I used to visit Aamirand Ashutosh regularly to get some good work. So when I? came to know they are making a film together, I landed up in their office and Iasked them for a role. Ashutosh told me to audition for Kachra and that¡¯s howI got the character.¡±
He further added, ¡°And as far as Kachra becoming a very popular character,I am very proud of it, because it¡¯s that character that has made me what I amtoday, given me fame, success, respect and it has also given me longevity for solong.¡±
Talking about his journey in the industry, Aditya says,?
¡° I started witha film called Om-Dar-B-Dar which is even today regarded as a very arty film.Even today that film is shown in FTI and lots of film schools. It¡¯s been almost35 years of me being an actor. My journey has been good, I have done somepretty good stuff, from Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Shootoutat Lokhandwala, and I am proud of every work that I have done.
I am happy in my own space. It¡¯s not that I haven¡¯t got success. I havedone 40 films after Lagaan. But you know the thing is that the character ofKachra is so etched in people¡¯s memory that I haven¡¯t got any strongercharacter than Kachra after Lagaan. I have done lots of work after Lagaan, but thenI can¡¯t compete with Kachra¡¯s character. I mean, I don¡¯t think I will ever getthe cult character like Kachra."
He even added, ¡°I would love to play impactful characters and I have,but I don¡¯t think I will ever overcome Kachra, I have played a gangster inShootout, I have done a lot of other characters also, but Kachra is something Ican never over pass.¡±
When asked do you feel it has bounded you as an actor as he is nothingmore than Kachra as an actor,?
"Kachra¡¯s role is and was a blessing for me because I got it after 12years of struggle as an actor In Bombay. I have really struggled to get Kachra.It turned out to be a blessing because Lagaan became a cult film. Also whateverwork I got after Lagaan is because of Kachra. I don¡¯t have any complain. Infact I am very proud. The journey has been very fruitful.¡±
Further explaining he said, ¡°It¡¯s a fact that most of the role that Igot after Lagaan is similar to Kachra, but then I take it as a part of thejourney, and as an actor you just have to act, I just go along. I know I mayhave not done too many films, but I am okay with it. I am a very happy go luckyguy. I don¡¯t go out of my way to bag roles; I just take what comes my way. Infact even now I am in Hyderabad my hometown, and since lockdown started I am here, I will only go back to Bombay for some work when pandemic subsides.¡±
Talking about life before and after Lagaan, Aditya said,?
¡°After Lagaanthings really changed, I got more work, recognition and for an actor when youare recognised on street by fans, that¡¯s satisfying. Even today when I walk onthe street people see me, and they say Kachra,? I smile back at them.?
Lifebefore Lagaan was hard but I kept working. I didn¡¯t get many rolesafter Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa , I didn¡¯t lose hope, Ikept my courage and kept working. I was always there and then I bagged Lagaan.All of my pre Lagaan work has helped me to be what I am today¡±.
Indeed some people are born to play some characters and Kachra is that characterfor Aditya. Do you agree?