Ulhas Tayade
Chitu from Sharpe’s Peril
I found solace in roaming the forest and turned out to be an extremely wild, highly independent child with an uncontrollable temper, so much so that my parents packed me off to continue schooling with my cousins, elsewhere. Even there I always did what I was meant to do, rebel. I shirked maths and found solace in language. Even now I am a good communicator and am clumsy in accounts.
Later on, I took to arts and sports. I found I could express my creativity in words and actions. I defied accepted norms and fought my way to do an MBA in Marketing. Here, not only did I hone my management and leadership skills, but also found my life’ s dream; the dream of creating reality on the celluloid. Here, I won accolades for my directorial and acting skills in intercollegiate events.
And where do you live now?
Currently, I reside in Mumbai, the city of dreams and opportunities with Dr. Nandini, who is a medico (doctor) and researcher. The unusual combination of Science and Art helps us to maintain a very good balance in life. I am presently in pursuit of my dream of getting into serious film making.
We know you’ve worked in many TV and films in India. Tell us a bit about your career and the roles you’ve played?
Since 1997, I have been a complete convert to the silver screen (small and big).I have been a part of numerous projects of the FTII, Pune as an actor. My debut in the Marathi serial Duniyadari as the main villain has been widely appreciated and I still bump into fans of Sai (as I am fondly
remembered) in the most unlikely places.
My entry into Bollywood has been slow and steady with small parts in films like, Tumsa Nahi Dekha, etc, and some bigger roles in still to be released films(Manish Gupta’s Saab Chai -Paani & Hostel). I have also worked in TOLLY WOOD (Telugu film industry, down south of India) in the film SHANKAR, where I played the second negative lead.
What attracts you to a role?
My understanding and appreciation of any role is based on my perception of human beings and human nature . I firmly believe that there is no good or bad person. A human being always has two facets and hence a character is never black or white, we are all shades of grey. Hence, intense characters, which have multiple facets to them attract me more. Apart from the fact that I have unconventional looks, I consciously seek complex roles that communicate more through expressions & body language than through dialogue.
The Man They Call
Chitu
The bandit Chitu was perhaps not all he had been made out to be as the tale unwound against the dramatic Indian landscape of Sharpe’s Peril.
Ulhas Tayade
tells us of his experiences working on Sharpe’s Peril and there’s more to this talented actor than meets the eye
as well.
Tell us a little about yourself, your early life...
I was a rebellious third child of a typical middle class, hard working, educated parents. I had a very simple upbringing, and was born and brought up in Amravati , a little known town in Maharashtra , known only for film distributors and a high crime rate.
From working on Peril, what is your impression of the character of Richard Sharpe ?
My impression of Richard Sharpe is that he comes across as a strong and capable leader, and a sensitive human being.
The Sharpe series is obviously told from the British point of view and their interpretation of Britain’s colonial past in India. Did you have any issues with the script and the way the Indian characters were portrayed in the series?
I felt the script was well researched and all the characters portrayed were quite authentic.
What was it like working with Sean Bean, Daragh O’Malley, and Michael Cochrane – the veterans of the series?
It was a pleasure working with such highly professional artists. What made a special impact on me was their magnanimity and generosity in appreciating good work from any actor – more so when I was on the receiving end of the kudos!
Right from childhood I was a difficult child to manage, growing up and completely at home in the wilderness of a forest hill station, where my parents were educators and administrators.
L to R, Daragh O’Malley as Harper, Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe. Ulhas Tayade as Chitu Photo courtesy of Celtic Films and Picture Palace.
Obviously you have both a business and artistic side since you have an MBA in Marketing. What came first, your business career or your love of acting? Does your marketing background help the creative side of your career?
I started out pursuing an MBA in PUNE, where I discovered my artistic streak. I was always a sensitive and temperamental person and before turning 18, tried out my hand at various alternative careers, such as advertising, private detection and journalism. An interest and passion for the performing arts arose during my post grad years, where I wrote, directed and acted in plays, winning many accolades and awards. I realized that I was not great at working under authority and preferred creativity to marketing. So, as opportunities came my way, I simultaneously directed plays, acted in a myriad of student projects from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and in television serials.
My MBA background (not the marketing aspect) helps me in managing and planning my resources and time whenever I am doing my own projects.
Left, Masumi Makhija Right, Ulhas Tayade in Sharpe’s Peril Photo courtesy of Celtic Films and Picture Palace.
How were you cast for Sharpe’s Peril? Did you have to audition? Had you worked before with any of the other actors chosen for Peril?
I was cast for Sharpe’s Peril through their Indian casting director. I did not have a traditional “audition”. It was more of a meeting with the casting director, followed by another meeting with the director. In both these meetings, there was just a recital of a few scenes from the script. I understand that I was being considered for the part of Chitu from the beginning. I had never worked with any of the other actors chosen for this project before.
Were you familiar with the Sharpe series and Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe books before you began working in Peril?
Though I have never read any of the works of Bernard Cornwell, I got a sense of the popularity of this series from friends residing in the UK. I understood the Sharpe series was akin to the Bond films and is followed avidly by UK audiences.
