Fits of laughter

I laugh because I like to laugh. I remember my friend Somaya and me having laughing fits that were so intense in boarding school that we'd literally have to cross our legs tight and stumble to the bathroom. (There were even times we would not make it, much to everyone's horror!) They say the problem with growing up is that we lose the ability to laugh uncontrollably and from deep within.

Considering how good it makes us feel, it's such a shame that we fashion ourselves in the expected 'serious' mould as we grow older.

Well, I've obviously not grown up conventionally. Ever so often on the sets of Just Pooja, certain moments are too funny to keep a straight face throughout and I dissolve into fits of laughter that end up with tears streaming down my cheeks, in front of harrowed producers and amused guests.

Moments like when I quizzed Jackie about his concern for the ozone layer and the way he looked wide eyed and pointed upwards and in his characteristic manner exclaimed, "Biddu, khadda ho gayela hai oopar"! Or when the singer Kailash Kher in a soon to be aired interview said he saw God all around him and in everyone, including me, and then turned to my cameraman (who has a rather large stomach and was perched atop the crane camera with one leg up) and said "Woh bhi jo Ganpati ke tarah oopar baithe hain"!

The funniest were my interviews with Lola Kutty and Mona Singh of Jassi fame (I think we wasted about 45 minutes of raw stock just guffawing nonstop, for no apparent reason).

Maybe I'm just an inherently happy and optimistic person, because there have been so many times while peacefully sitting and watching a setting sun when a memory of something absurd pops into my mind space and I burst into peals of laughter.

It could even be a visual of the silly, naked, singing and dancing crazy frog that doesn't believe in performing with underwear! (Have you seen him?)

It's not that my life is trouble free. Everyone knows I've suffered 5 deaths (mother, brother, grandmother, man who raised me, and that of my dog) and a divorce in a rather short period of time.

But I choose to bounce out of every emotional abyss with a smile. (I consciously choose wonderful memories to overpower the grief of its limited time span).

I believe laughter is the source that charges the batteries of my soul. Therefore, I guess my ability to find humour in everyone and everything around me, including being able to laugh at myself, is my strength.

Slapstick comedies, situational comedies, funny movies, stand up comedians, joke books, look around you or simply look at yourself, objectively. Laughter is waiting to be tapped.

Fortunately for the Indian movie goer, Bollywood which cashes in on 'trends' (We had a surfeit of action films post Deewar , romantic films post Love Story, semi erotic films post Murder etc) is riding the comedy wave today with feel good films such as Hera Pheri , No Entry , Garam Masala , Munnabhai MBBS , Salaam Namaste etc ruling at the box office.

I read recently that "power" of laughter is now being drawn on for its therapeutic, healing properties and body building potential.

That it strengthens cardiovascular fitness, boosts the immune system, increases your information retention and intellectual performance, gives you abs of steel and rids the system of anger, fear and boredom.

So, throw your head back and laugh out loud. It may destroy your conservative reputation but trust me, you'll soon wonder why on earth, you wasted all those years being serious.