Veteran actor Brij Gopal, with a career spanning over five decades and more than 350 films, recently shared intimate details of his journey in the Indian film industry. His exclusive interview highlighted the unique challenges and triumphs of a dedicated character artist.
Gopal spoke candidly about his early struggles. Hailing from a business family in Muzaffarnagar, a city in northern India, he moved to Mumbai to pursue his acting dreams.
He recounted the profound personal sacrifice of leaving his six-month-old son behind. At bus stops, he would often cry upon seeing mothers with children, reminded of his own family. He would then wipe his tears and head to acting class, driven by an unwavering resolve to succeed.
His first significant recognition came from a small dialogue in O.P. Ralhan’s film ‘Papi’. Uttering the line “We are press people,” made him a local hero in his hometown. Children would wait with biscuits, eager to greet “Brij uncle.”
Gopal gained wider prominence for his role as the antagonist in the blockbuster film ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’. He joined the project after 15 years in the industry.
Director Nasir Hussain initially doubted his casting due to his “soft face”. However, Mansoor Khan, the film’s other director, strongly insisted, declaring, “He is my killer!”
This conviction ultimately secured Gopal the part that defined a significant phase of his career. He recalled an incident on Linking Road where two girls pointed him out, saying, “That’s the one who shot Aamir Khan.” Though initially tempted to react, his upbringing prevailed.
Later, the legendary actor Pran offered him profound wisdom. Pran told him, “This is the first compliment you’ve received in life.”
Gopal continued to excel in negative roles, embracing the audience’s strong reactions. For his role as Kajol’s kidnapper in the film ‘Ishq’, even his own 8 to 10-year-old family members stopped speaking to him.
They called him a “bad man”. Gopal, however, considered this his greatest praise. He firmly believes that villains are afforded the most significant variation and depth in their roles.
He quipped, “Heroes get songs, villains get expressions.”
He humbly concluded his interview with a request to his audience. Gopal asked them to “keep hating me,” as he considers this very sentiment his “biggest earning.”