Rishi was hesitant to play negative role

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor was initially reluctant to play a negative character in Karan
Johar's 'Agneepath', a remake of 1990 Amitabh Bachchan starrer. In 'Agneepath' Rishi will be seen in a different avatar, wearing kurta-pajama, a karakul cap and kajal in his eyes.

"Initially when Karan Malhotra (director) approached me for the film... I did not see any place for me in the movie. I told him he must be joking...and that if the movie does not work then I might be the only reason for it," Rishi told reporters here. "I asked Karan that from which angle I look bad...but he was determined that I must to do the negative role," he said.

The senior actor said it was a first in his career that he gave a test look to the director. "For the first time in almost 40 years of my career I gave him an angry...bad look...a test look. He built up the confidence and eventually things worked out. He trusted me to carry out the look," Rishi said. Producer Karan Johar also said that the actor was anxious to do the film.

"He (Rishi) was more anxious about doing the film. He said he had never played such a character. We might have seen a mild...grey Rishi Kapoor but never a black...he is seen in a different terrain," Johar said. The film, starring Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles will release on January 13 next year.