Villain or comedian—over the last many years, Mahesh Manjrekar has been approached with either of the two parts. It’s something he almost contented himself with. Until director Tejas Vijay Prabha Deoskar offered the actor, 66, the central role in Devmanus. 

“I have usually been typecast in negative or comic roles. So, when I got Devmanus, I jumped at the chance. The myth that I do only negative and comic roles needs to die down. I was pleasantly surprised when Tejas offered me the role as my on-screen image is not at all of a dev manus [a God-figure]. At this age, when you get to lead a project, it’s daunting but also heartening,” smiles Manjrekar, who balances his directing and acting careers.