The Hindu : New Delhi News : Adding a touch of his own

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Monday, Oct 08, 2007
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New Delhi

Adding a touch of his own

Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Ever innovating: Actor Paresh Rawal in New Delhi.

The versatile Paresh Rawal has made audiences squeal in laughter and cry their heart out with heart-touching performances on the big screen. As he takes to television, he shares with Madhur Tankha his views on films, theatre and television.

He may have enacted a wide variety of roles in Bollywood, but actor Paresh Rawal is still game for essaying characters that range from a downright baddie to a rustic buffoon as long as he can impart his own personal touch to each of them.

On a brief visit to the Capital recently to promote his latest television venture, Paresh said he wanted to produce films that will remain entrenched in the viewers’ minds forever.

“I want to make hard-hitting movies, not mushy ones. Films like Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Omkara’, Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Chak De India’ and Nagesh Kukunoor’s ‘Iqbal’ have appealed to me tremendously. I want to do film of such high standards.”

Paresh accepts a role only if the storyline touches his heart. “If the story doesn’t click here,” he says pointing to his heart, “then I don’t the film at all. The sensitive manner in which Rahul Dholakia’s film ‘Parzania’ unfolded was really a treat to watch. I am using the word sensitive as the film was made against the backdrop of the Godhra riots in Gujarat.”

Among Paresh’s many hits include ‘Sardar’ in which he played the role of Vallabhbhai Patel and ‘Maya Memsaab’ in which he played a scheming shop-owner. Not to forget his role of a dim-witted but kind-hearted Marathi landlord in ‘Hera Pheri’ that was lapped up by cinema-goers.

Talk about his upcoming projects and the gifted actor makes it clear that he wants to keep them under wraps. Instead he insists on talking about the boom in television and is full of praise for the vast reservoir of talent that has surfaced on the small screen. “I like every type of comedy on television. It is the ‘andaz’, the mannerisms with which the actors utter their dialogues that showcases their talent.”

Paresh says one should not underestimate the importance of television. “First and foremost, television is supposed to entertain us. And these days it is hosting fantastic shows with big artistes. The social message comes next. While a film gives you entertainment for two to three hours, a soap opera tries to entertain you for two years. This is not an easy task.”

Speaking about his undying passion for theatre, Paresh says the National School of Drama is working actively to revive the good old theatre. “People like Naseeruddin Shah and Satyadev Dubey are always there to strengthen theatre. I also look up to Prithvi Theatre. It is high time that the Government gives it subsidy.”

Paresh would like his theatre group to participate in ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’.

“I need artistes who can give me two and a half months for rehearsal. These days artistes want to train for just 15 to 30 days. If you have seen European theatre you must have wondered how they have produced such wonderful plays. This is because Europe has seen the turmoil of the Second World War.”

Dismissing the suggestion that theatre is on the decline, Paresh says: “It is not finished yet. It manifests our culture and way of life. In Paris people are organising Gujarati ‘dandiya’. Plays in Gujarati and Punjabi are being staged across the globe. So our sanskriti is penetrating to every corner of the globe.”

Speaking about his serial ‘Main Aisi Kyun Hoon’ on Sahara One Television, Paresh says it is a woman-orientated show. “The protagonist Sanjana defines today’s working woman who is broadminded but still respects Indian customs. The soap opera has wit, wisdom and humour. I handled the serial from the conceptualisation stage to the script. We don’t want to expand our creativity to such an extent that we cannot handle it.”

The actor believes in the mantra of having a healthy body, mind and soul and is regular walker who eats only home food. “I read a lot to get new ideas. In fact, I am a vociferous reader. I read all kind of books, fiction and non-fiction, but I don’t touch books on science as I cannot understand them.”

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