Manish Paul: “Don’t want to be restricted to comedy”

He may be known for his comic-timing but actor-TV host Manish Paul says he wants to try different roles and not stick only to comedy.

Manish, who made his Bollywood debut in the 2013 comedy “Mickey Virus”, says he is keen to do a romantic or an action film now.

“I don’t choose roles, the directors and producers offer me…I am just two film old right now so I can’t be that choosy. Maybe after this if people say, ‘let’s try something different with him’, I’ll be open to do,” Manish said in an interview.

“I want to try different roles. I just don’t want to get restricted to comedy. I would love to do an out-and-out romantic film and hardcore serious action film. Let’s see if I get that,” he added.

Before bagging his first breakthrough hosting assignment in “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa”, the 34-year-old actor did a few daily soaps.

When asked if he would go back and do more daily soaps, Manish said, “I have done two to three (TV serials) ..Honestly, I don’t think I can do that. I don’t mean to say they are below my level but I think I am below their level.

“My creativity does not match with the shows and then that is a problem. I couldn’t get the satisfaction so that’s why I couldn’t do it. So I left it. I was free for a year, sitting at home doing nothing. Then hosting happened and everything clicked.”

The actor, however, is open to do a limited-TV series like the show “24”.

“Yes that is a good option. A show like 24 is awesome, so if more shows are getting made like that, I would love to be a part of it.”

Manish will be next seen in “Tere Bin Laden- Dead or Alive”.The film is a sequel to Abhishek Sharma’s “Tere Bin Laden” which starred Pakistani pop icon Ali Zafar.

The actor is “ok” with comparisons between him and Zafar, who he says is a “star.”

“I think I am ok with the comparisons… Ali is not a bad actor to be compared with. He is a good actor, very good singer, he is a star in himself. It will be good if the comparisons happens.”

Even though the film is comedy, Manish says it was tough to bag the film and hopes people will connect more with him.

“The audition went on for four hours, Abhishek and I met for a day, I heard the script… He does not get convinced easily. It was a lot of hard work to get the role.”

“People have seen just one film on screen, Mickey Virus. Even in that, I wasn’t that big a name… The connect with the audience has increased today. I am expecting more people (to watch it), let’s hope for the best.”

Inputs by PTI

Also Read: MANISH PAUL: WAS INITIALLY TENSE DURING ‘TERE BIN LADEN: DEAD OR ALIVE’ SHOOTING