Man who wants fame at any cost-Manish

MANISH PAUL

[07 Mar 2011]

I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHO MANISH PAUL IS

THE MAN WHO WANTS FAME AT ANY COST

Think of all the popular actors on TV and chances are that more than a dozen names come to your mind. The same holds true when you think of popular stand-up comedians on TV. But think of popular TV hosts and you will be able to count them on your fingertips. Sad as it may be, Indian television has a dearth of talented anchors. While the West has amazing hosts lined up in the form of Oprah Winfrey, Jay Leno, Cat Deeley and many more, closer home there are very few to boast of. However, enter Manish Paul and the anchoring scenario has changed. And must say, for the better. Not taken seriously until now, anchoring today has become cool and glamorous thanks to Manish. Showtime meets the most sought-after anchor in the telly world.

Ask him how he got into the anchoring mode and he replies, "I started my career as an anchor. I used to host shows in Delhi. But there was not much work there, so I shifted to Mumbai. For the next few years, I acted in various serials. But I wasn't enjoying the work. The roles weren't that great and the tracks kept changing. So I decided that I don't want to do any more serials. That was when I started anchoring again. Then things just started happening. People also started realizing that there is a good emcee called Manish Paul. A lot of offers started coming my way. And now I'm loving it. It's not like mujhe acting mein kuch nahi mila, toh main anchoring kar raha hoon. It's just that the kind of high I get from anchoring, I'll never get it from acting."

The fact that he enjoys it is evident in the way he brilliantly hosts popular shows like Dance India Dance Little Masters and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. So does he prefer hosting shows over acting? "It's not that I have to either anchor or act. I see myself as an entertainer and I have to entertain the audience. So it depends on what the audience likes. Right now, they are enjoying my anchoring. A lot of my fans come up to me and compliment me for my anchoring skills. So I am happy being an anchor now. Having said that, the day I get a good role in a good serial, I'll definitely do it. But it has to be a challenging character. Otherwise, there's no point. I don't work for money. It's not that as long as I get my per day income, I'll do anything. Other actors follow that funda, I don't."

Well, this guy definitely makes his own rules. A clear indication of this was when he unflinchingly took up Sa Re Ga Ma Pa midway, when its original host Purab Kohli left the show. While anybody else would have had reservations, Manish didn't mind stepping into Purab's shoes. "I wasn't at all apprehensive about replacing Purab. I have my own audience and Purab has his own. As far as I can say, I was welcomed with open arms into the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa family. Once I joined the show, people didn't even ask why Purab didn't continue. They loved me on the show. And I hope I'm there in the next season as well."

But hasn't Purab already hinted that he might return in the next season? "It is not for Purab to decide who will host the show. Nor can I decide. It is finally the channel's call. If the channel approaches him to do it, why would he say no? After all, it is a huge show. So if he wants to do the next season of the show, he can happily do it. No issues from my end," Manish clarifies.

Manish also has a penchant for comedy shows. After acting in the comedy Ghost Bana Dost, he also recently participated in Comedy Circus Ka Jaadoo. Quiz him on why he only does comedies and he justifies, "In TV, the only thing that is popular is either comedy or drama. And when it comes to drama, women dominate that genre. I don't see any serials where the men get to do much. Honestly, I'd love to do a serious drama or an underworld thriller. But the problem is that it doesn't work with the audience, so I stick to comedy." Clearly, he isn't worried about being stereotyped.

After trying his hand at acting in serials and then anchoring, Manish has now explored another avenue – Bollywood. The witty actor was seen in a small role in the blockbuster Tees Maar Khan. "Farah (Khan) is a very dear friend. So when she told me to do the role, I couldn't say no to her. It is only a 5-minute sequence, but I have got a very good response. I have been getting so many compliments. So I am wondering that if a 5-minute sequence can do so much for me, imagine what will happen when I do a full-fledged film," he gushes.

But didn't the length of the one bother him? Considering that one's first few roles determine their career in Bollywood, wouldn't he have preferred a more substantial role? "Let's face the truth, I am not Yash Chopra's son nor do I have any filmi background. I come from a typical middle-class Delhi family. I don't have any push and pull in this industry that will help me get roles. I believe in hard work," he states matter-of-factly. Taking a breather, he adds, "If I have an interesting face, build a good body and sit in my bedroom doing nothing, nobody is going to walk into my bedroom and place a lead role in my lap. I believe that I should keep doing good work. If people like my work, they will find me from anywhere and offer me a film."

He sure sounds like someone who has his head firmly on his shoulders. But he insists that he has only matured over the years and that he too was a starry-eyed lad when he came to Mumbai, hoping to make it big in Bollywood. "I used to be the typical Delhi brat wearing a branded T-shirt, carrying a branded bag, having long hair and all that. Initially, I would only travel in a rickshaw or a cab. But in 10 days, I realised that travelling in a rickshaw costs 300-400 bucks a day and I switched to a bus. My favourite joint during those days was the steps outside Fun Republic in Andheri, Mumbai, because it was next to Yash Raj studios. I used to keep walking up and down that lane, hoping to meet Yash Chopra and get a break in his films," he recollects.

It is obvious that he is as enthusiastic as can be when it comes to his professional life. But he rarely opens up on his personal life. No wonder then that not many know Manish is a much-married man. "You know, there have been instances when people have asked me, you're not married right? And when I tell them that I am very much married, they are very surprised. But I have never consciously kept my personal life low-profile. Obviously, I'd not like to discuss what happens in my bedroom or inside my house. I'd never want to make my home a Bigg Boss house. But I've never hidden the fact that I am married. Why should I? It's one of the best things that has happened to me," he asserts.

Prod him a little on whether it is better to marry someone who's not from the industry and he reveals, "I am very happy marrying a girl who is not from the same industry. See, if we both are working for 15 hours everyday, then we won't have time for each other.

You know the sweetest part about her is that she takes time out to take care of me. Plus, she doesn't even like the TV world. She never comes to my shoots as she finds them very boring. Even when I ask her to attend my shows, she says that she'll attend it only if it's a live show. Otherwise she is not interested."

Veering towards his professional life again, this multi-talented guy has done it all – acting in soaps, anchoring and films. What next? "I don't want to stick to only hosting. I would love to act in films. I would even want to direct a film someday. Who knows? One thing is for sure though – I want everybody to know me. Every one should know who Manish Paul is. I think people have already started noticing me. The ones who haven't will hopefully notice me soon," he states confidently. There's no doubt about that. After all, he's got what it takes to be noticed and more.

*By Eepsita Guha