Tigmanshu Dhulia turns villain in Anurag Kashyap's next

New Delhi: Director Tigmanshu Dhulia hasturned actor for friend Anurag Kashyap. He is playing the mainvillain in Kashyap's upcoming film Gangs of Wasepur.

Dhulia, who finished shooting Pan Singh Tomar withIrrfan Khan and Sahib, Bibi aur Gangster recently, decidedto face the camera at the insistence of Kashyap, who himselfis playing an important role in Dhulia's Shagird.

"Anurag is a very good friend of mine. He wanted meto take up the role of the villain because he knows that I didmy diploma in acting at National School of Drama," Dhulia toldPTI.

Despite his initial reluctance, Dhulia says he isenjoying his time in front of the camera.

"To face the camera and deliver dialogues is adifferent experience and I am enjoying my stint as an actorbut my first priority will always be direction," Dhulia said.

Dhulia has a couple of other projects besides PanSingh, which is being released this year by UTV and Sahib,Bibi aur Gangster.

"My next film Shagird will be releasing in Februaryin which Anurag will be seen in a major role and that's why Icould not say no to him," he said.

Being shot in Benaras, Gangs of Wasepur, revolvesaround the gang wars prevalent between different gangs in thewasepur region of Bihar and is likely to release in May-Junethis year.

Dhulia, who received rave reviews for his filmHaasil, about student politics and casteism, saidthat he turned to direction because it gives him freedom toexecute his own ideas onscreen.

His directorial venture Shagird starring actor NanaPatekar has been shot in Delhi and will be releasing onFebruary 25.

Dhulia, who turned producer with film Sahib, Bibiaur Ghulam, says the Mahi Gill-Jimmy Sheirgill starrer is asocial thriller and will be releasing in April this year.

The director is now planning to begin work on his nextproject, a love story titled Milan Talkies.