Stepping into the world where your parents have already created milestones brings both opportunities as well as challenges. Not everyone can stand up to those challenges or make their mark. But Abhinay Berde, among the rising stars of the Marathi film industry, has left his mark with his first Marathi film and he plans to keep doing so with every kind of role he will be portraying whether it is the main lead, a romantic hero, or a villain. Abhinay firmly believes in versatility and creating films that are entertaining with the characters and the situations that truly resonate with the audience.
For our latest edition of Insights Success, we got Abhinay Berde candid about his journey as an actor, how he entered the Marathi film, and his goals for himself as well as to be instrumental in reviving the golden era of the Marathi film industry. Read on to know more about Abhinay Berde and his exciting journey so far and to be continued.
What was your inspiration behind becoming an actor?
As a kid, I have always dreamt of becoming an actor even before I knew anything about my parents’ work in the industry. Films have had a huge influence on me not only during my childhood but even on my journey as an actor. For me, it was never about just being an actor, it is also about making good films and entertaining the audience. I always wanted to become an actor, cinema has been my passion, and if my parents were not in the acting field, I would still have chosen to be an actor.
You said you want to make good films. What drives you more – acting or direction? Do you see yourself in a director’s role in the future?
I recently directed a short film, which was a small stepping-stone for me in the field of direction. I think acting and telling a story go hand in hand. These two complement each other. The actors convey the story to an audience that the writer wrote, and the director has directed.
I believe as an actor you need to know how to tell a story. People should be convinced by the story you are telling or the role you are portraying.
How did the work of your parents – Priya Berde and late Mr. Laxmikant Berde – influence you and help you shape as an actor?
Their work taught me to be different. I realized early on I didn’t want to follow the same path as my parents as an actor. Both my parents created their style and it suited them and their time well. My style of entertaining people is different. I admire my parents as actors. My father had played fantastic roles and characters throughout his career. He took the entertainment to another level. Both my parents have inspired me with their hard work. One important thing I have learned from both my parents is to be different. I want to make something different from what my parents did.
How were you offered a role in your first Marathi film ‘Ti Sadhya Kay Karte’?
I was doing theatre at that time. I was working in Intercollege Drama Team at Mithibai College, Mumbai. We performed in one of the reputed competitions held under the Mumbai University. Students from all over Maharashtra had come to compete. Also, renowned directors and producers have been attending these inter-college competitions and events in search of fresh talents. Our play won the gold medal, and I won the Best Actor award for the play that year.
During that time Satish Rajwade who has directed my first film Ti Sadhya Kay Karte, came to know about my work in Marathi theatre and that I was doing well. So, he approached my mom with this film offer. I was a little sceptical about taking the offer as I hadn’t completed my graduation yet. But Satish Rajwade encouraged me to at least listen to the script. I liked the script and the role I was offered. So, I decided to take this opportunity.
And I liked the way I was going to be launched, which was different from how every rising star is been launched today with a romantic and stylish persona around them. I didn’t want to be launched like that and I am glad that I didn’t. I liked that my debut role was a boy-next-door. The film was the blockbuster of the year and I won several awards for the film as a debut actor. This has encouraged me more to keep learning to be a better actor and performer.
You have had a glimpse of both worlds – Marathi theatre and films. So, what drives you more – theatre or films?
I haven’t been able to work in theatre since after I completed graduation. I am desperate about working in theatre again. If someone offers me a script tomorrow, I will start rehearsing the next day. What drives me more is that the theatre polishes you as an actor and working in films has always been my dream.
So, I want to keep working in both mediums, I want to improve myself as an actor. And I want to do different roles, be it the main lead, a romantic hero, or a villain. I am a firm believer in versatility, and I would like to do everything that will come my way.
Do you have any dream roles? Is there a certain role you want to be offered?
I am drawn towards negative characters or characters with grey shade. Maybe it’s because I am a Scorpion. But I think grey-shade characters attract me more because no one in the real world is black and white. Everyone has a hero as well as a villain in them.
I would love to explore these characters on-screen. I like to do action sequences. In my upcoming film, I’ve done a small action scene and I loved shooting it. I loved the rush, the energy, and the style that is required for the main lead to perform an action sequence. I would love to do an extended action sequence; I would love to do a musical as well. Basically, I want to do films that I grew up admiring.
As a rising star of the Marathi films, how do you think the perspective of the audience has changed over the years towards Marathi films?
I feel that somehow Marathi audience has moved away from Marathi cinema. Sure, people are more supportive through other platforms such as sharing and commenting on videos on social media or showing their support and appreciation by watching reality shows where we promote our films.
But in the end, something stands in between Marathi films and their audience, which is why the audience is not coming to the theatres. I think the entire industry should collectively search for the reasons. People spend their money to watch films in theatre and they deserve the kind of entertainment they ask for. And as a part of this industry, it’s our job to deliver that kind of entertainment to make the audience happy.
Another factor why the audience loved certain Marathi films like Sairat, Duniyadari, Timepass, and Ti Sadhya Kay Karte was the entertainment factor and the relatability. People could relate to the characters or the situations that were portrayed in these and more such films. These films depicted the reality or a part of it that resonated the real-life society. That’s why these films did well in terms of business as well as popularity even after.
As directors and writers, artists have complete freedom to tell the stories in whichever way they want. But for the entire industry to work we should also consider what our audience expects from us. The whole industry needs to work together to bring the audience back to the theatre.
The Marathi film industry has so much talent that it could put us on the map. We need to explore what is working for us. We need to motivate that talent to come forth and shine through. The entire Marathi industry has so much love and acceptance within. I feel gratitude for working here. I want to do something for the audience and the Marathi film industry through my work as an actor.
“I want to carve my own path. I want to create my own legacy. And I want to honour my parents with my legacy”
