It’s not easy to step into Naseeruddin Shah’s shoes, and that too in one of his most iconic roles of Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai. But Manav Kaul, that very talented theatre actor who is currently wowing film audiences as Rajkummar Rao’s colleague friends and betrayer in Hansal Mehta’s Citylights has never attempted the easy route. For the 37-year old theatre-film actor the belated recognition in Citylights has come not a day too soon. “Yes, it feels good. I’ve waited very long to reach out to a wider audience. My part in Citylights has worked because I had a co-star like Rajkummar Rao to bolster my performance. No actor, no matter how talented, can hold up a performance on his own,” says Manav who has been struggling to find a firm foothold for 14 years. Recognition came to him all of a sudden in Kai Po Che where he played the Hindu fundamentalist in Gujarat. Says Manav, “I did get a lot of appreciation for my role in Kai Po Che. But not too many people knew who I was at that time. That’s because I’m into acting and direction for the love of it. Also, I had put on some weight to play this character and I was looking different from how I usually do.” And now Manav plays Naseeruddin Shah’s role in a remake of Saeed Mirza’s cult film Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kya Hai. Giving details of the project Manav says, “It’s being directed by Soumitra Ranade. It’s a completely different take on the subject. My Albert Pinto is still very angry. But Soumitra and I have decided to make the character far edgier.” Manav directed many distinguished plays in English, the latest being the controversial Colour Blind about the secret relationship between Rabindranath Tagore and Victoria Ocampo, the Argentinian writer with whom Tagore shared a special bonding. Kalki Koechlin played Ocampo. Manav says he would love to make a film about of the play. For many years Manav who is trained theatre actor and director, did not relentlessly pursue a movie career. Says the actor, “There was no burning ambition to become rich and famous. There still isn’t. I don’t wish to accrue wealth. I’ve no desire to own a house and car. I’m single. I’ve no major financial liabilities. I am happy just doing what I love to do....like I recently took off to the Himalayas direct a small film Tathaghat about the life of a Sadhu.” Tathaghat has been shot. But Manav has no money to edit the film. “I made the film with my own money and I wouldn’t want outside money to be used to complete the film. I believe in doing what comes naturally to me without any fear of what the outcome would be. I directed another film Hansa in the same spirit. It got some recognition. But not the audience I would have liked.” For now it’s goodbye to theatre for Manav. “I’ve been directing plays and acting in them for ten years. I am restless now. I want explore the cinematic medium. I want to act in films now,” says Manav.