Mayor in real life, Chief Minister in Marathi film

Pune: Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor Yogesh Behl got an opportunity to test his acting skills when he was offered a role in a Marathi film, Ashi Fasli Nanachi Tang. Accepting the offer, Behl played the role of a chief minister and addressed a gathering as the camera rolled.

The shooting was done in Behl's ward in Sant Tukaram Nagar. "Addressing a crowd in the film was not difficult for me. It was just like my other public meetings, the only difference being it was a public meeting in a film with my own people from the ward," Behl said. "I have been in politics the last two decades, so all this is not difficult."

Behl's character is named Yogesh Dada Pawar, and it rings similar to the name of Ajit Dada Pawar, the incumbent deputy chief minister who is his real-life mentor. The audience gave a standing ovation when Behl completed his political speech surrounded by other members of the cast - Mohan Joshi, Ashok Shinde, Smita Gondkar and Aniket Kelkar - at PCMC's Acharya Atre Auditorium in Pimpri. Behl said most of the shooting was done at night.

According to Behl, preparing for the role of a cultured, educated and practical CM in the film was really a tough job. Film director Deepak Sawakhande was all praise for Behl. "It was a pleasant experience to work with the Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor and I okayed most of the shots in just one take," Sawakhande said. The director said the film was a family entertainer. "The film speaks about family bonding when people go through difficult times in life," he said.

Netas and abhinetas

Shantilal Suratwala, a former city mayor, also acted in a Marathi film Raj Ka Ran four years ago. He played a negative role in the film.

Bhausaheb Bhoir, a Pimpri-Chinchwad Congress corporator, played a role in a Marathi film, Utara Saat Baryacha. He also produced the film.