Ananya is excited to see me act in a Marathi film: Chunky Pandey on Vikun Taak

After having been an actor in Hindi cinema for more than three decades, Chunky Pandey is making his debut in Marathi cinema in Sameer Patil’s Vikun Taak. He plays the comical character of an Arab. 

During the trailer launch of the film last evening, Pandey revealed that he never felt like accepting offers to work in a Marathi film earlier. “It took me 32 years. I used to keep getting offers for guest appearances and song appearances. But I used to think why should I do [such cameos],” he said. 

The actor looked back at his character in Tezaab (1988) where he impersonated an Arab in a scene. “This is the second time I am playing an Arab. I had done a film, Tezaab, in which I and Johnny Lever made life hell for Lotiya Pathan (Kiran Kumar) as Arabs. But that Arab also spoke Telugu. This Arab also speaks Marathi,” joked Pandey.

Pandey shared the reaction of his daughter and actress Ananya Panday on his Marathi film debut. “Everyone in the family got excited. My elder daughter Ananya got excited as well. She said she wanted to see how I speak Marathi on screen. I did a few auditions in front of her till she got convinced,” he said.

Vikun Taak sees Shivraj Waichal’s character selling off things belonging to others to pay off his creditors. He meets an Arab (Pandey) and this brings more drama in his life.

It was producer Uttung Thakur who felt that the character would suit Pandey. “Sir [director Sameer Patil] also saw Chunky Pandey in that character. We met Chunky sir and gave a narration. He immediately said yes because he liked the character so much. He [the character] will make you laugh as well as cry,” he said. 

Also starring Radha Sagar and Hrishikesh Joshi, Vikun Taak will be released on 31 January.