He's an actor par excellence. But Yashpal Sharma, so brilliant in Lagaan, Chameli, Gangaajal and Apaharan, is ready to mend his ways. He is all set to turn from Black to White in a series of films.

Yashpal will play the lead in Shayam Benegal's Chamki. "I play the protagonist's husband. Kamaal ki script hai ! Apart from Prakash Jha and a few directors I'm not happy with the way Bollywood treats me. I'm given neither proper money nor the kind of roles I deserve.

In fact for Prakash's Apaharan, both Nana Patekar and I have been nominated in the same category for a popular award. That felt good. But I feel ill-treated and underused. Maybe it's time for me to be taken more seriously now."

He admits he hasn't been chasing up roles too hard. "The good roles come way, but mostly in the offbeat circuit. I've the main villain's role with Rahul Dev in Anees Bazmi's Benaam. This is the kind of film and role one gets noticed for."

But now Yashpal is happy. He has played the lead in the new Hindi films by Jhanu Barua and Paresh Kamdar. "In Jhanu Barua's Chasing Butterflies I play the main lead. I play a reformed terrorist who has lost his limb. It's the story of my relationship with a child.

I keep remembering what happened to Balraj Sahni in Kabulliwallah and Pran in Nanha Farishta where they shared screen space with a child actor. I hope something similar happens to me"

But the film that Yashpal hopes would do the turning trick for him is Paresh Kamdar's Johnny Johnny Yes Papa. "I share the main lead with a small child. I can't tell you how beautiful the film is.

It'll remind audiences of films like Vittorio de Sica's Bicycle Thief and Roberto Benigni's Life Is Beautiful. I'm hoping to make the switchover to more substantial role and image with this film."

Yashpal shares the limelight with little Amit Pandit (the precocious Sardar-kid Koi...Mil Gaya). "It's the kind of film that will make or break me. I'm very proud to be associated with it. I'm sick of playing the villain. But what to do? I can only do what I'm offered."

In Sushen Bhatnagar's Trisha Yashpal plays the lead opposite Divya Dutta.