Reinvention is Sharad Kelkar’s forte, and the actor keeps it that way with his latest web series, Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, trending #1 on Netflix. Recently, Kelkar revealed that his character in the crime thriller is inspired by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan’s Angry Young Man in films of the 1980s. He also opened up about how he has been influenced by Big B’s characters.
“Who hasn't been a fan of Mr. Bachchan? He's a phenomenal actor. Though not as an adult, he had a huge influence on me as a child. I used to style my hair like him. Well, there's a lot more to this show than just that swag,” he shares. Speaking about the reference between his character and the Angry Young Man, he adds, “My backstory in the show is set in that decade, the same era as Mr. Bachchan's Angry Young Man era. My character is a fan of his. When he goes to get his hair cut, a photo of Mr. Bachchan is displayed in front of him, urging him to get a hairstyle like that. That swag is definitely a small part of the story."
In Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, Sharad Kelkar wins hearts as Bada Chaudhary, the smuggling kingpin. “It forced me to explore a darker psychology and I’m glad I took that risk,” he says about the role. The series brings together Emraan Hashmi and Sharad Kelkar among others in a thrilling face-off of customs, crime and smuggling. Created by Neeraj Pandey, the series is currently streaming on Netflix.