Mumbai, March 13: Shafi Inamdar is a name that evokes images of honest inspectors and comedic roles in the minds of audiences. However, the story of how he began portraying villains is quite intriguing. When Javed Akhtar offered him the role of the main antagonist in Ramesh Sippy’s film “Sagar,” Shafi immediately accepted the offer. He later revealed the reasons behind his decision.
In an interview, Shafi explained that after playing police officer roles in films like “Ardh Satya” and “Aaj Ki Awaaz,” he saw this as an opportunity to create a different image for himself. He believed it was a chance he couldn’t pass up. This role turned out to be a significant break for him, allowing him to balance both types of roles.
Shafi’s authenticity and realistic acting endeared him to audiences. His portrayal of an inspector in “Ardh Satya” was so well-received that he was often cast in similar roles. Nevertheless, Shafi consistently sought variety in his performances. He also appeared in television shows such as “Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi” and “Mirza Ghalib.”
Reflecting on his beginnings, Shafi shared that he had a passion for the stage from a young age. Despite being a science graduate in college, his inclination towards performing arts grew stronger. He admitted, “Initially, I didn’t take it seriously, but then I realized that if I wanted to make it a profession, I had to work hard.” His first and most significant medium was the stage, where he began his film career in 1983-84 with the movie “Vijeta,” directed by Govind Nihalani. At that time, Nihalani was also working on the script for “Ardh Satya” with Vijay Tendulkar. He offered Shafi a beautiful and interesting role as the elder brother of a senior officer, which Shafi found appealing. The film was an offbeat art film featuring Om Puri and Smita Patil, achieving success on both commercial and artistic fronts. Following this, he played a unique inspector role in B.R. Chopra’s “Aaj Ki Awaaz” before landing the main villain role in “Sagar.”
Shafi mentioned that Shabana Azmi informed him about the villain role in a major film. Javed Akhtar extended the offer, and Shafi quickly agreed. Working alongside Rishi Kapoor, Kamal Haasan, and Dimple Kapadia in “Sagar” provided him with an opportunity to craft a new image.
Inamdar believes that acting is fundamentally the same across all mediums; it just requires adaptation. He spent about 14-15 years working on stage, associated with Prithvi Theatres and IPTA. He noted that stage is a live art form where the audience responds instantly. In films, the footage is limited, making it essential for every line and expression to be precise. He feels more comfortable in television due to the longer footage available, but his favorite medium remains theater. Throughout his film career, he has portrayed various roles, including police inspectors, villains, comedic characters, and family members.
Shafi expressed that seeing himself on screen for the first time in “Ardh Satya” filled him with excitement and pride. During a trial show, he mostly focused on his performance until Pandit Satya Dev Dubey advised him to pay attention to the other actors as well. Shafi remarked that working with Govind Nihalani on his first film was a unique experience.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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