'Tumhe chaaron taraf se police ne gher liya hai'

The pot-bellied inspector can step aside. Prime time television now has two hotties mouthing this formulaic dialogue

Aamir Khan won respect for it in Sarfarosh, Amitabh Bachchan's identity of the angry young man was moulded when he played it in Deewar, and Salman Khan is coming up next in the role of a corrupt cop in Dabanng. Unlike the film industry, television usually sidelines those playing law-enforcers. But with the arrival of two actors who don't quite fit the jaded inspector bill, this might just change.

While Manoj Chandila (of Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil) has stepped in as Motilal Huda on Colors' TRP topper Naa Aana Iss Des...Laado, Vikas Sethi (best remembered for his role as Prem in Kasautii Zindagii Kay) plays an IPS officer in Uttaran. Both guys have been brought in to investigate the deaths of two leading characters in
respective soaps (Gunja and Vansh).

Manoj Chandila
In: Naa Aana Iss Des...
My character is that of a fun-loving inspector who does his job perfectly, but loves some masti too. He is not bad at heart, but the character has some grey shades.

The inspiration comes from Anil Kapoor's role as the frivolous cop in Ram Lakhan. He may be a cop you can bribe, but he's not a negative character.

The challenge was to play a cop while bringing in some humour. The comic timing has to be perfect, and the lines have to be delivered smartly, else the dialogues are likely to fall flat.

My favourite dialogue is when I am first introduced to Ammaji. I fold my hands and say in Haryanvi, "Maka, Ram Ram Ammaji." It is not a great line but it says a lot about the character, especially the cunning smile that accompanies the line.

Vikas Sethi
In: Uttaran
My character is a straightforward IPS officer who doesn't beat around the bush. He is a clean guy who hits the nail on the head. The audience may sense he has a negative side, but that's just a tactic he employs.u00a0

I took it up because I've never played a cop before. You have to interrogate every accused in a different manner depending on his personality. It's a cameo but it has received a terrific response.u00a0

Being a cop means you may not have too many lines and your body language has to do the talking. Your eyes should be able to give away a look that shuts people up, if necessary.u00a0

The inspiration would have to be Kiran Bedi. I grew up watching her on television, although the character is not inspired by any real cop.