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When RGV told Yami Gautam to leave behind her Fair & Lovely image

The Sarkar 3 director also told Rohini Hattangadi that she needs to play a character that is the opposite of Kasturba Gandhi.

Amit Sadh, Rohini Hattangadi, Yami Gautam, Amitabh Bachchan and Jackie Shroff with director Ram Gopal Varma. Photo: Shuttberbugs Images

It is a dark film, but the mood at the Sarkar 3 press conference was light. From Amitabh Bachchan to Ram Gopal Varma, the team of Sarkar 3 was in a jovial mood. Bachchan took the microphone and asked his director and co-stars about their experience on Sarkar 3.

Yami Gautam and Rohini Hattangadi shared stories about the time when they were offered the film. Yami, who appears in a Ram Gopal Varma film for the first time, said, “I was a bit flattered [to get the offer], but I wondered what role I would get in this film. As I entered his office, Ram Gopal Varma commented that he wants to cut my Fair & Lovely walk.” The actress once endorsed the fairness cream.

Varma jumped in and said, "A film like Sarkar has these menacing characters. Suddenly, in the midst of this, we have a petite Fair & Lovely girl. I wanted to see whether she can hold a gun. I believe all beautiful girls are mean in their hearts.”

Yami added, "Before I started shooting, I kept asking RGV sir whether he wants me to do any homework. He asked me to just come to the sets. Time flies quickly. It’s one of the most wonderful shoots [I have] ever done.”

Meanwhile, veteran Rohini Hattangadi had her own interesting tale. ”I was in his [Varma's] first film Shiva (1989) just for a scene. Then came Raat (1992) and now Sarkar 3. When I met him, he told me I will be playing a character that is exactly opposite to Kasturba.” Hattangadi had played Mahatma Gandhi's wife in Sir Richard Attenborough’s acclaimed film Gandhi (1982).

As seen in the trailer, Hattangadi plays a grey character in Sarkar 3.

Amit Sadh had no words to express himself. "I don’t think I have the capacity to even think that I could be part of such a film with such amazing actors. I had loved both Sarkar (2005) and Sarkar Raj (2008). I have no words again except to thank Varma and Bachchan sir for making me part of this film.”

Sarkar 3 is slated to be released on 7 April.