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He is the man who evinced reactions such as "What a bastard!" recently, after a screening of Astitva.
Making his first strong presence in the film -- opposite Tabu, no less -- Sachin Khedekar has come a long way from acting in Marathi plays and television.
Ronjita Das traces that journey with him:

Who is Srikant Pandit?

He is a man high on ambition. Who believes that a woman's destiny is always a man. Who tries to carve his woman into what he wants her to be.

Tell us how you came to be Srikant Pandit.

Mahesh Manjrekar has been a friend of mine since my theatre days.

I was the male protagonist in his first film, Aai (1995). As also in Astitva.

Actually, we were supposed to do Astitva a while ago. But Mahesh got busy with Vaastav and Nidaan.

So Astitva was pushed back because this was a subject dear to him. And he wanted his mind totally free while doing it.

How did Tabu come to be associated with this film?

Astitva was supposed to be filmed in Marathi earlier. We had approached many Marathi heroines for the role. Nothing materialised.

That's when we thought, why not make it bilingual? Then, somebody told us that Tabu spoke Marathi.

So Mahesh read out the script to her. And she liked it. So, over five years, the film changed from a Marathi film to a bilingual film to a Tabu film! It just got bigger and bigger.

Tabu is one of those genuine actresses who can hold her own in the absolutely fantasy-filled and illogical mainstream cinema.

What was your immediate reaction when you realised that you would be starring opposite Tabu?

My immediate reaction was Wow! (laughs) See, I don't have the conventional hero type of looks or aspirations.

She's always been my favourite actress. I've always felt that she is one of those genuine actresses who is holding on her own in the absolutely fantasy-filled and illogical commercial mainstream cinema.

One can see the traits of a genuine, sensitive actress in her.

So I was very happy when she agreed to do the role. I learnt a lot from her.

What was it like working with her?

She is very experienced. My journey has traversed from theatre to television to films. It has always been films for her. So she's technically more experienced in terms of her sensitivity and how she looks on camera. How to project the correct attitude of the character.

There are so many things that I observed in her and incorporated in my acting. She was a great help.

See, if you have good actors and actresses and a great director, your performance level improves, as you are better involved.

Astitva was completed in a record 18 days. How did you guys manage it?

Quite simple. Mahesh had the story very clear in his mind. The story, screenplay and dialogues were ready before we started shooting. The film has 48 scenes and four songs.

Each of us had a clear schedule to follow and stuck to it. That way, we were very organised. And we all worked very hard.

Mahesh Manjrekar has also completed Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai in 45 days. Do you think this is some kind of personal race where he's trying to beat his own record!

Look, I have always felt that if you know your job, you will make it happen fast. It is essential for a filmmaker to have a story, screenplay and dialogues ready before you go on the sets.

In the commercial Hindi film scenario, large sums of money are wasted in erecting sets and then dismantling them because the filmmakers are not ready with the scenes, or are not confident enough to shoot them.

Directors like Subhash Ghai and Raj Kanwar make their movies in 130 shifts. That's strange -- taking 400 or 500 days to shoot a film!

What was it like, working with Mahesh Manjrekar?

Wonderful. He is a thorough gentleman. I've known Mahesh since the time he was an actor -- he started out being one, you know. Then he became a producer, writer and now, director.

I think he is a magnificent person, just gotten better over the years -- which is the actual growth of a man.

We did a Marathi play Aflatoon in 1985, which was our first play. Then Me Maansi, had Mahesh directing me. As does Astitva.

Any unusual experiences?

The sheer pace with which we worked and the extreme exhaustion of good creative work.

Usually, everyday work tires you. But in this case, it was an exhaustion that comes from the satisfaction of good work at the end of each shooting, which is very rare.

The rains were such a damper, though! We were shooting in Lonavla in July this year. Now, the rains are beautiful in Lonavla, but it's only when you are not working that you can enjoy it. It is tough to shoot there in the rains.

What do you think Astitva has done for your image?

I might be called a better actor. I might get better roles -- I'm very positive about that.

I am still offered not-so-substantial roles in films, which don't say much about Sachin Khedekar, the actor.

So I'm looking out for roles which will establish me more as an actor, as also more challenging ones.

On the one hand you have a strong role like this one. On the other, an inconsequential one like, say, in Bichoo. How do you strike a balance?

See, every film has its own commercial logic. There are different kinds of films.

I had worked with Guddu Dhanoa in Ziddi. When he was making Bichhoo, he came to me with the script.

I did crib that the role was too small, don't make me do it. I wanted a bigger role. But he could offer me only that. So I did it. I have done many things for my friends.

In fact, I have acted in quite a few films contending with small roles, like Badshah and Daag, The Fire.

What projects are you working on now?

Well, I have my old theatre and television work. I haven't accepted any film offers yet.

In fact, I have even stopped taking new theatre and television offers, because I'm really looking forward to acting in films.

What are your future plans?

I'm trying to fish for some good roles. You might be idealistic and say that role chhota bhi ho, phir bhi hum karenge! (It doesn't matter if it's a small role, I'll do it.)

But that no longer makes any sense.

Actors might say that even if there are two scenes to act, an actor will prove himself in that short period.

That's bullshit! It only makes sense if you speak a few lines and there is some sense in those lines.