Paresh Rawal Feels Trapped by His Baburao Character in Popular Comedy Franchise

Comedy Icon or Career Trap? Paresh Rawal Talks Baburao Legacy

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: May 21, 2025

Summary: Paresh Rawal revealed that he is stuck with the Baburao image from the popular comedy series and desires more diverse roles.

Paresh Rawal, a well-known actor, has opened up about his long-running role as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, a beloved character from a popular comedy franchise. While audiences continue to admire Baburao, Rawal admitted that playing him regularly has become a creative strain.

He described the experience as "gale ka phanda"—a noose around his neck—stating that the character's popularity has boxed him into a specific image. Even when working on sequels, he admitted there’s no excitement or creative satisfaction.

Rawal had approached well-known filmmakers with the idea of casting him in different kinds of roles while maintaining his iconic look to break the Baburao stereotype. Unfortunately, these recommendations did not receive any momentum.

The actor also voiced concern over how sequels today are mostly being made for commercial gain, without offering anything new to the audience. He contrasted this with sequels that have managed to retain their essence while bringing in fresh narratives and characters.

Rawal acknowledges Baburao's popularity and calls him a ₹500 crore character. However, he says there is a lack of creative effort to develop the part. He explained it as mental laziness or a creative barrier in the sector.

His comments reflect the dilemma many actors face when one popular role ends up defining their entire career, leaving them craving artistic variety and challenge.