'Tughlaq' is a dream role for any actor: Yashpal Sharma

As the historic ruins of Firoz Kotla came alive again with the revival of the landmark play 'Tughlaq' after forty years, no one is happier than actor Yashpal Sharma who billed this cynical character from the Delhi Sultanate dynasty as a "dream role for any actor."

'Tughlaq' is a semi-biographical account of the 14th century Delhi Sultanate king Mohammed-bin Tughlaq, an intelligent ruler who strove for a secular society where he wanted the religion to be separate from politics, but who, socially alienated, turned into an apparition of himself and "died disillusioned, consumed by his own pity."

"At first when they called me, I said no. But, when I later read the play with the consciousness of having to play 'him', I was hooked. I couldn't stop. And, for me playing this is a lifetime experience, more than my film or TV career and I'm very proud of it, so giving my best so far," said Sharma.

"This character has so many shades, it is a dream role for any actor, theatre film or otherwise," he added.

The 'Aarakshan' actor said that though people have known him largely through his films like 'Gangajal' and his cameo in 'Gangs of Wasseypur', he has kept his love and dedication for theatre alive and doing 'Tughlaq' is only a crowning achievement.

The actor confessed that playing this iconic role was a challenge that he undertook and that probably he'll "never play the role of this magnitude and intensity ever again."

"This is my biggest role. In Mumbai I still do theatre whether with Gulzar sahib or Nadira Babbar, among others, but let me admit that I have never done anything like this and I don't think I'll ever do this again. I didn't even know how would the final performance come out but 'Tughlaq' is a role an actor would die for," he said.

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