The tube devar
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Meet Ali Asghar, one of tele-soaps' most recognised faces.
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WAITING FOR A COMIC BREAK: Ali Asghar as Kamal in "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki".
His `younger-brother' look has fitted flawlessly in the role of Kamal on Star Plus's Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki. With chubby cheeks and a childlike smile, when short-sized Kamal says, `Parvati bhabhi' with a lump in his throat in Kahaani..., all hearts sway in his favour.
`Laxman,' many find a parallel to his track. `Wronged,' many commented at the way his wife in the serial, Pallavi had left him. `What's wrong with him,' said an angry lot when he got into an extra-marital affair with a colleague long back. Even as TRPs of Kahaani... continue to soar, Kamal's track too has gained currency.
And now chosen Best Devar in this year's Star Parivaar Awards, a role that got him the same cup from Indian Television Awards last year, Ali Asghar says, "It is a so-far so-good trip." Kamal's role, he feels, "is a satisfying one as it has had quite a few shades."
"I have been tragic, comic, nonchalant, gharelu... I did the roles of a beta, devar, pati, baap, bhai, aashiq in Kamal's characterisation. So, it gave me an opportunity to try out all hues of life in acting," says Ali. Though, he feels, his will and talent lies in performing comic roles.
"I am a great fan of Mehmood sahab. He is my guru. For that matter, all our yesteryears' comedians like Johnny Walker, Keshto Mukherjee... were terrific. I wish I could be as fine as them. Really, I want to do some funny films. I have realised that comedy is what I enjoy doing the most," states Ali, whom many might remember as Johnny in the show Ek Do Teen Chaar on Doordarshan many years ago. This was his debut TV role by the way.
Kanhaiyalal roles
Besides comedy, he hopes to do some negative roles in films too. "I want to do some bad boy roles in movies like the Kanhaiyalal type or even Om Prakash-like roles will do for me," he adds, knowing quite well that his face is cut out for character roles and not that of a hero's.
Having started with Ek Do... , this Mumbaikar got on to doing many serials over these years. At present, he is seen on Kahaani... and Kavvyanjali on Star Plus. Seen in quite a few films, he has some more in his kitty. "I will be seen in David Dhawan's Shaadi No 1 and a Hinglish film Do Aur Do Paanch this year," he says.
Keen on "continuing the good work," his dream role though, is Rajesh Khanna's track in the film Anand. But at a time when movies are going for same-sex shows, gangster dramas and the like, isn't that history for Bollywood, Ali? Sad though.
SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY
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