Posted:
16 years ago
'I won't leave TV for films like other actors'
Actor
Nasir Kazi tells Dhaval Roy that he is successful on his own merit and
not because of his father late Johnny Walker's goodwill
How did you career in TV start?
I
started my career with ads. I did an ad with Prahlad Kakkar, and he
called me for several ads after that. From there, I started getting
calls for music videos and anchoring shows. After that started serials.
I began with Woh, then I did Aashirwad. People liked my performances
and I was offered Mehendi Tere Naam Ki soon. Then I got into Balaji
serials and did Kasautii Zindagi Kay and Kkusum. Currently, I am doing
Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kesar. I'm anchoring a show called
Haath Se Haath Milao, which is an awareness programme about HIV AIDS. I
interview films stars in that. It's a very entertaining show with a
social message. Then I also have a show called Cross Connection.
You have also tried your hand at films, but nothing much worked out...
Yeah,
that's true. But I'm glad I am doing well on TV. It's all about work,
not the medium. I still have a couple of film offers but it's only on
negotiation stage, so I can't talk about it. But, I will never leave TV
for films like other actors. I'm getting regular work here and it would
be stupid of me to leave that for something as uncertain as
films. Also, I want to be in films but I'm not all there yet, which
means I yet have to be popular when it comes to films. But people want
me on TV, which means I am more successful there.
You are doing two Balaji serials. Doesn't it get hectic?
Not at all. 24 hours a day is a long time. It's all about time management. There are people who tirelessly
work for 20 hours a day, while the others get tired by working for just
two hours. And I think it's more about being driven about what you are
doing. If you enjoy, why would you get tired? What also helps is that I
don't mix my professional and personal lives. When I am with my family,
I don't talk work and when I'm working, you won't find my wife and baby
around me.
You father, late Johnny Walker, was a known name in
Bollywood. Didn't you want to cash in on that and get big projects in
films?
Dad never helped me with my career. He used to say,
'If you go to people as my son, they won't say no to you for work. But
they might still not give you any work. You may think that you have
work but actually you'll be workless.' And, I want to know which actor
has survived only on their lineage or goodwill. It's the actors' hard
work that sees them through.
Ironically, your father was a comedian, but you are making a name by doing tear jerkers...
That's
because when I was starting my career, comedy was nowhere in picture.
There was buffoonery and slapstick stuff in the name of comedy, and I
didn't want to be a part of that. People thought they have sense of
humour, but actually there was no sense in that humour. But now even
the biggest hero wants to do comedy. Also, even if I do want to do it,
people have to want me in their projects too, right?
