Montenegrin actor Momčilo Otašević started his career in Montenegro, both in the theater and on the small screen in the series "Budva na penu od mora", but he achieved the greatest popularity, especially in the region, with roles in numerous Croatian series.
After the series "Zora Dubrovačka", "Kud puklo da puklo" and "Cista ljubav", he started working on the project "Na granici", which is broadcast on the Nova channel, in which he portrays the character of Kreša.
During the break between filming, he came to Podgorica to play the play "Equinocija" at the Montenegrin National Theater, and he also found time to share his impressions from the set for the supplement "Play", and also to reveal how much he loves his daughter Maša, whom he got before just over two months, changed her life.
At the very beginning, he referred to the fact that he is a very desirable actor in Croatian series, be it dramas or comedies.
"That's how it kind of broke from the first series I worked there, the production team was satisfied with my involvement and the jobs I did, that is, the roles I played for them. So, here we are, extending our cooperation on this series 'On the border'", answers Otašević.
"Some 30 to 40 percent of the actors in it are repeated from the series 'Kud puklo da puklo', which was very successful and watched, so they wanted to repeat the same, if not better, success. So I'm very happy to do this series, because after last year's drama, it suits me to shoot a comedy," the actor admits.
He especially likes, he says, the change compared to the previous character, Ranka from "Pure Love", who was a villain.
"I like that change, both in the character and in the way of filming, so I find it interesting, fun, fast and I can say easy, even though I wake up at six in the morning. I do what I love, so it's easy," he concludes.
"Now, considering that I played a villain in the last series, this came very well to me, but it's more interesting to play a bad guy," he says, noting that in Croatia he still can't escape the role of a good guy.
Unlike the filming of "Kud puklo da puklo", when the set was very far from the city, now it is much easier for him, because the filming takes place at the Zagreb Fair.
"We have a studio, there are our interiors and sets, mine and the houses of the other heroes, a cafe... in general, all the interiors that are permanent. And the location is Žumberak, the surroundings of Zagreb, a maximum of an hour's drive, so that it would be profitable... We mostly shoot on roads that are not used often so that we can work undisturbed", he reveals.
"It's interesting to me outdoors, at least I prefer it, if nothing else we can breathe clean air", concludes Otašević.
The action of the series "On the border" takes place in a small border town, where the locals more or less live off smuggling. When asked how much they relied on real events when creating the characters, as well as the events in the script, the Montenegrin actor says:
"I don't know how technically the events that happened can be played out, some things must be respected due to political correctness, through other compromises, so I believe that all the events are invented, but that some may be associated with some events that happened in the region ". Otašević believes that this is the best combination, because it is the easiest way to win over the audience.
"And we can convince them the best... In Croatia, the series is currently very popular precisely because people can identify with the characters and recognize in us someone they know from those smaller places. I believe that's why they find it interesting," he believes.
In the meantime, Otašević also works in the theater, both in Croatia and in Montenegro, so he gave an interview right before playing in the play "Equinocija", for which he was awarded for the best acting performance at the 13th Festival of the Mediterranean Theater of Purgatory for the role of Ivo Ledinić.
"I'm shooting the series five or six days a week from June and probably until next June, and at the same time, tonight I'm playing 'Equinocio' at CNP, then I'm going to sleep for two hours, I'm going on a plane, because I'm shooting on the set in Zagreb in the morning. In the afternoon, I have a rehearsal for the play I'm playing there...", Otašević enumerates, but he doesn't stop there.
"In November, the third or fourth part of the filming of the film 'After Winter' awaits me, since we have all four seasons in it, so my schedule is filled to the max," he explains.
Despite a large number of obligations, the most important role for him right now is the role of a father, given that in mid-August, he and his wife, Croatian actress Jelena Perčin Otašević, had a daughter, Maša.
“Parenthood is definitely life-changing, but I can't even explain it myself right now... all I know is that I'm happy. I've been happy since I found out I was going to become a father, everything in my life is easier, I'm much less nervous about unimportant things, I enjoy life, I'm fulfilled. I know it's a cliché, but it's the most beautiful role..." the actor pointed out.
Otašević met his wife, Jelena, on the set of the series "Dawn of Dubrovnik", and despite the fact that since then they have had many engagements, they have not been in the same frame anymore, but this does not bother the Montenegrin actor.
"Somewhere we talked and decided that it would be very strange to play together again, both for her and for me. It would be unusual, but it would definitely be a completely new experience in our lives," he believes.
Celebrated the new year with colleague Filip Juričić
The actors on the set of the series "On the Border" had a double celebration in August, considering that Filip Juričić, who worked with Otašević on the same projects several times, had a son, Lev, a day before Maša was born.
"We had children in two days, and we shoot and work together every day. It's interesting, because we come to the set in the morning and then we exchange experiences, how was the night. 'Did he eat? She ate mine,'" recounts the Montenegrin actor with a laugh.
"Just last Friday, we were sitting in the make-up room at six in the morning, and she was still sleeping. It's better for her than for me," Otašević joked.
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