Birthday Special KN Singh: The villain should also be of the hero's age-group!

K. N. Singh as the villain. N. Once upon a time, Singh used to sting. That's why when I expressed my desire for an interview over the phone for the Khalnayak special issue, I got the answer-

'What is the use of interviewing me for this issue? I am almost retired now. There are character roles in the two films that I am doing.

'You think so but in our opinion, the villain special issue will remain incomplete without you.'

'Okay, as per your wish. You come home the day after tomorrow at 10:30.

When I reached KN Singh's house, I came to know that Saheb was having breakfast. After some time, when Singh Saheb came, he said – “Sorry!” I woke up a little late today. You are Parvez, right?

Even before we could start the interview process, Singh Saheb started digging into the past. All those things were very interesting but did not match our topic. Perhaps he also understood this and said - 'Okay, you ask, I will remain silent.'

'When did you start your career as a villain?'

Singh sahib kept thinking something and then said - 'In fact, I had become a complete villain in 1938 itself. But even before that, the first Villainish role was done in 1936 in a Calcutta film 'Anathashram'. In which a child was kidnapped. When he came to Bombay in 1938, he did Kardar's film 'Baghban'. The story of that film is very interesting. The villain of that film was a selfish person. Who does not realize the problems of others. He is ignorant of the thing called love. Always talks rudely to others. Because he thinks that if you talk to someone with love, then the person in front will definitely ask for something. Will complain In those days, Yakub Ishwar Lal etc. were playing the roles of villains. I had seen a lot of his films. When Kardar offered that film, I said that I will not copy anyone. Because imitation cannot last long. Secondly, if a crow walks wearing peacock feathers, some feather will fall here and some will fall there. I'll show you the rehearsal. If you like it then it is okay, otherwise you can take someone else. He said ok. Rehearsal started. At that time Kardar's wife Bahaar Akhtar was also present there. When I showed the rehearsal, Kardar remained sitting silently on his chair. I asked what's the matter? Said we did not understand anything. I said - 'Then you take someone else.' On this, Bahar Apa said to Kardar - 'Mian ji, you have gone crazy. Of. N. You haven't even seen the eyes of the lion, you are only seeing the body. Kardar said - 'Okay, if you want to take it then take it but I will not come to the set.' Bahar Apa signed me and did as the Kardar had asked. Whenever I was on the set, they would not turn that way. The film was completed, released, and became a hit and fared well in competition with 'Pukaar'. And that's how we became villains. After that one day Yakub came and said – King! You did amazing. 'I said-'I am a lion, not a king.' He started saying - 'King, we will speak only as king.' We came after seeing your picture. It felt good and also bad. I said, 'First tell me why you felt bad?' Said- 'We have stopped the work of villain from today. Don't know how you became a villain? Neither smokes cigarettes nor shows his eyes. We will do comedy in your picture. After that we did many films together in which he did comedy.

'How many films have you done as a villain so far and which form have you portrayed?'

'Till now I have done two hundred films. As far as form is concerned. I have raised every form. I have also become such a villain who talks to the enemy with a smile. But hatred is hidden in it. He has also played the role of secretary to kings and emperors. I have also become a third-class thief, a village ruffian. And he has also played such roles in which it seems that he is a villain just by his manner of speaking and gestures. Let me tell you one special thing if the villain takes the support of a sentence in acting and action, then the reality starts reflecting in the performance. But if the villain is revealed only by hitting, screaming and raping, then it looks artificial. I learned this from Harendra Nath Chattopadhyay and Devki Babu.'

'Once upon a time, villainy was not your answer. But here for some time you are less seen in films, what is the reason for this?'

'The biggest reason for this is age. Actually, the villain should also be of the hero's age. Otherwise, the role should be such that he is old. Now let me tell you that I played the role of villain in Ramanand Sagar's film 'Humrahi' with Randhir Kapoor. One day my sister Krishna Raj Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Ramanand Sagar and other members of our family went to watch a movie in the picture hall. Perhaps that day was the silver jubilee function of the film. In one scene, when I hit Dabboo, a spectator from behind got up and raised his voice. 'Singh Sahab is your grandson, why are you killing him?' I said to Ramanand Sagar- 'Listen, son! Now you understand!' Now you must have understood why I am not seen in films. Secondly, these days heroism has become such that, There should be only one hero in the entire film. If any artist should be the hero in any scene. If an artist overshadows the hero in a scene, then the hero gets angry. And tells the director - "We cannot work in such an environment." In our times all artists were equal. There used to be no master and no servant. Let me tell you another interesting anecdote. It is a matter of 1945. This is from the shooting of the film 'Laila Majnu'. Nazir (Mama of late K. Asif) Swarna Lata and some junior artists were shooting at Mysore Palace in Bombay. Food arrived for us at lunchtime. The production manager gave money to the junior artists and asked them to go and eat. A junior artist said – give us the car. Because there was no hotel in that area at that time. And had to go to Grant Road from there i.e. Nepionsee Road to eat. On this, the production manager got angry with the junior artist. When Nazir heard this, he called the production manager and scolded him a lot and took his and our food and gave it to the junior artists. Junior artists got scared, they refused to eat, then Nazir said if you do not eat this food, then I will not talk to you. He was forced to eat food. Then the production manager himself went to bring food for us. Today you can expect this from any hero.

'What are your upcoming films? And what kind of roles do they have?'

'As I said I am almost retired. Still, if someone calls me, I go. I am playing the role of a judge in Raj Khosla's film. In 'Tumhare Pehlu' I play the role of Vinod Mehra's father who is seriously ill. Apart from this, perhaps one more film whose name I cannot remember.

In Raj Kapoor's film Awara, I Become a goon in which Judge Prithviraj Kapoor punishes me and I make his son Raj Kapoor a thief, whose dialogue became very famous.

The son of a noble is not a noble and the son of a scoundrel is not a scoundrel, only circumstances make him a vagabond, a thief, a scoundrel.