'Yeh jo hai Satish Shah'
SATISH SHAH tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that he is ashamed when he watches his old performances
How would you rate yourself as a comedian?
I do not consider myself a comedian. I feel I am an actor who is good at comedy, with a great ability to see humour in anything around me. The biggest challenge for a comedy actor is to rise above the script. To succeed as a comedian, you have to have your own inputs. Very few writers have written subjects, which bring out comedy.
Do you regret having been typed as a comedian by the film as well as television industry?
Not at all. Because I feel that it is the gospel truth that comedy is
the toughest thing for an actor. If no one cries at a sad soliloquy, it does not affect the actor at all but if an actor cracks a joke and begets pin-drop silence, it does affect the actor.
How good are you as far as stand up comedy is concerned?
I have never done stand up comedy like Johny Lever has. I feel that stand up comedy is very difficult. I need another good actor to perform well. If I get a bad co-actor, I will not be able to perform well in comedy scenes. I am not a stylised Raaj Kumar who can tell my lines and get away.
How do you feel now that you have been appointed as one of the judges for 'Comedy Circus'?
I was surprised when I received the call asking me to take on the mantle of one of the judges for the show. I have not been following Indian cinema for the last several years. Frankly, I do not know which trend is the current one. I am at a loss as to what is being lapped up now as far as Hindi films are concerned. As one of the judges of the 'Comedy Circus', I am now in the process of judging these people before they are ready to do their stuff in front of me.
What is your take on Johny lever, as a comedian?
I feel that Johny Lever is a guarantee for laughter. I make it a point to watch a movie only if Johny Lever is there. I do not care who the hero of the film is. I was part of the scene in 'Anari No 1' with Govinda in which he played the character of Daler Peti by doing this comic sequence donning the garb of Daler Mehendi. When we were shooting the sequence, both Govinda and I were just spectators in the scene with Johny hogging the limelight and we did not mind it even a wee bit.
As compared to the leading man, most often the producers tend to take the comedian for granted. How do you cope with it?
I may sound immodest but the fact is that today I choose my own producers. There is absolutely no question of any producer taking me for granted for the simple reason that even if I like the script, I may not agree to do a film if I do not like the producer. Hence, you get to see me in very few films.
Okay, let me put it this way. Do you think big banners take comedians seriously?
Whether films or for that matter television, I have always been fortunate enough to be approached by big banners to work in their films. If they did not consider me seriously, do you think those producers would have cast me in their serials or films? I consider myself fortunate that people remember me till now for my performance in serials like 'Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi' and films like 'Masti' and 'Main Hoon Na'.
Do you think there is an absolute dearth of comedians on television as well as films today?
It is sad but true that though there are many stand- up comedians on television, there are very few comedians who can hold your attention on their own might. There are actors who think that they are comedians but have a wonky sense of comedy. Today as a viewer, you have several choices because you do not have to remain confined only to Doordarshan unlike in the past. Today I feel that the star on television is he who you see and then decide to stop surfing.
How would you evaluate your growth as an actor over the years?
It is now thirty years since I had started my career as an actor in films way back in 1977 after I passed out from the Pune Film & TV Institute. Evolution is on because that is the way of life. There is growth all the time in you whether as a person or as an actor. It is very difficult to evaluate your growth in terms of volume. One changes with time and tends to incorporate changes, especially if you happen to be techno savvy as well.
How do you rate yourself as a comedian when you watch your old films and TV serials?
I do not mind confessing that I am always ashamed of my old performances when I watch my old films objectively as a critic and inevitably I cringe and start sinking on my seat, especially when I watch my films on International flights. I feel that you improve in retrospect. As a normal human being, it is quite okay if you make mistakes but you repeat your mistakes only if you are a hard-core idiot.
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But here comes the unexpected twist!! Ketki Dave who is known for her comic timing, seemed to be in "Once bitten twice shy" mood and backed out at the last moment, refusing to participate and return to the show. The reason for the sudden denial was that she knew it takes lot of time and commitment by an actor to put up a successful comedy act and since she had her assignments which had made her hands full of work ,but with less of time, she didn't think she will be able to take out adequate time for the rehearsals!!
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