"Lage Raho...Munnabhai is actually superior to the first film. And I've a more substantial part. It's an outstanding role. I get a rare chance to make people cry. I generally get only to make audiences laugh while others actors take care of the tears. I'm far more satisfied with Lage Raho Munnabhai than Munnabhai MBBS."
One of the reasons why Arshad had more fun on Lage Raho than the first Munnabhai film is the leading lady. "Gracy Singh who was in MBBS is a very rude person. I think she couldn't handle her success. I feel it isn't difficult to be nice to people.
I'd rather deal with a bad actor who's nice person than a fantastic actor who's an arsehole. I won't act with an arsehole no matter how brilliant he is. If you're a mediocre actor but a good humanbeing I'll put in that extra effort for you. But my wife Maria keeps telling me I can't change things in the industry. But one keeps trying."
I compare Arshad to Mehmood. Both are natural born scenestealers whom the leading me are threatened by.
"You're telling me! Six months after Munnabhai MBBS, and no one wanted to act with me. Sanju is the only one who was generous enough to act with me. Again after Lage Raho... no one will want to act with me."
Arshad has hardly signed any new films. "Except Kabeer Kaushik's film. He gave me a wonderful lead role as a cop in Sehar. Actually I'm scared of solo leads. I always want a bigger actor around, unless it's Raju Hirani or Yashraj Films. Otherwise I'd rather have Sanjay Dutt at the forefront. "
Arshad says he's no longer comfortable with slapstick comedy. "I've one such film Indra Kumar's Dhamaal, but that's it. I'm sick of routine comedies. I try to enjoy what I'm doing. But the slipping on a bananapeel humour is so tacky. It's difficult to write comedies like Gulzar's Angoor or Munnabhai"
Sighs Arshad, "I don't mind being called Circuit. I can't avoid it. Circuit is stuck to me, and Munnabhai to Sanju. It's the price for doing your job well."