Unfair to compare 'Rockstar' and 'Banjo': Riteish Deshmukh

Actor Riteish Deshmukh, who plays a street musician in film "Banjo", says that it would be unfair to compare the film to actor Ranbir Kapoor's music-based film "Rockstar" as the film and the characters are completely different.

Asked about comparisons with "Rockstar". Riteish said: "I'm a big Ranbir Kapoor fan; I really like his work. I think it will be unfair to compare the two films. When you'll see the film and the character, you'll see that both are different characters, so there is no parallel that you can draw. It is like Shah Rukh Khan in a romantic role and Ranbir Kapoor in a romantic role."

While in terms of looks, there is a similarly with the long locks both actors sport, "Rockstar" was more of a coming-of-age musical journey of Ranbir's character, who performs in concerts while Riteish's character is gifted with the talent of playing Banjo and plays it at street events. While the former was an out-and-out emotional love story, this one has a bit of comedy also in it.

Incidentally, lead actress in both the films was Nargis Fakhri with "Rockstar" being her debut film.

About the film, Riteish said: "'Banjo' is indeed an extremely special film because my friend Ravi Jadhav and Krishika (Lulla, producer) both thought of me in this role, which is probably against so-called type; It is not a comedy, it is a musical. I'm glad that they had faith in me to do this role and I hope that I have lived up to their expectations.

"I was attracted to 'Banjo' because when Ganpati is at home and when you go for the Visarjan, you are in the car singing 'Ganpati Bappa Morya...', but when you look out of the window, it is fully a dhamaal when you see them playing the Banjo, so that attraction was always there and I'm glad that all my dreams I could fulfill with this film."

"Banjo" has been directed by Marathi film director Ravi Jadhav.

--IANS

iv/vd