Once again I would like to stress that this is an imaginary take off of an interview I had with the Mr. Nayyar. Please take this post with not only a pinch but also a Truckload of salt!!! Please also keep in mind that I composed the questions and answers and therefore have tried to keep it fair for both parties. Its hard to be both the interviewer and the interviwee!!!
After my first interview with the Guhas I was so confused.
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/tumhari-disha/60596/kissa-beard-ka I walked out of Film Farms in a daze. I was so shocked with the response I got from the Guhas and was wondering is that how TV Serials are made. But I did not have time to dwell in the past because I had to prepare for my next interview with Mr. Nayyar. The following day, armed with the same driver and ammunitions (camera, mike et al) I reach Film Farms. This time I am more prepared, more confident and even have my permit in tact. The Gatekeeper gets up with a smile to greet me. That's a good start I think to myself.
I am informed that Mr. Nayyar is in his makeup room getting ready for the next shoot and that he would like the interview to be conducted there. So I walk up to his make up room and knock on the door even though it says PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB. A male voice calls out "Come in" and I open the door and walk in. There I see in person, the IF famous Mr. Ashish Nayyar (I say IF famous because ladkiyon ne usko IF men Demi God banake rakha hai)! He's seated in front of a huge mirror with a lot of lights and an assistant is busy with his make up, wardrobe and he's also being briefed about the scenes to be canned today. He sees me walking in, gets up smiling from his chair, we shake hands, and asks me to take a seat. After the initial pleasantaries are over, he says he is ready for the interview. I am facing a man who has ignited the screen with his smile and acting skills. Looking at him, only one thought comes to my mind - why are girls so hysterical about him? He is quite ordinary looking, but the script and the makers of TD have made him powerful and have presented him very well. Of course this could not have been achieved if he was not talented. No doubts about that. His stars too must have been well situated in their planetary positions. (Sorry Mr. Kalam I know you said that Stars and planetary positions have no effect in our life) I see in front of me, a man with a lot of ambition and loads of talent. I am a bit nervous because I am armed with the type questions that have never been asked before. He's calm, cool and composed and looks at me as if to say, "I am ready and I have been waiting, shoot". I take bappa's naam, clear my throat and fire away my questions while he stutters and stumbles!!
Me: Good Morning Mr.Nayyar
AN: "Good Morning and please call me Ashish.
Me: (Smiling) so tell me, what do you feel about TD today?
AN: (Smiling) "Well, I have returned as Satwik. The serial is not moving as fast as it should be and was in the past. But that's how it is in serials. You cannot have high sailing all the time. But I am sure the momentum will pick up and we will be back to where we were".
Me: So you do agree that TD is not rated highly today?
AN: "Yes its very apparent and one has to be blind not to see it"
Me: (amazed at his honesty) Satwik is not as popular as DK. Were you and the producers hoping to cash in on Satwik?
AN: (Laughs) "You make me feel like a commodity!. Yes I can see that Satwik is not liked much. My change of appearance did not go well with the audience. But my hands are tied. I am a director's man. What they say, I do. I do not interfere in the script. I guess they tried to test the waters with Satwik but its not working right? There are times when an artist has to succumb to the whims and fancies of the writer and producers".
Me: (I feel a bit bad for him) I think people are used to seeing Disha with DK. What do you think? Will they like seeing Disha with Satwik?
AN: Smiles and agrees. "Yes, it makes no sense to make Satwik the romantic lead of Disha. Satwik is not popular as DK but there is a reason. DK was this arrogant, dashing successful guy with an attitude. That was attractive to the audience. People started seeing me as DK and that's how they still want to know me. They are used to DK so in his place they would not like to see anyone else"
Me: And they miss the beard too!
AN: (Laughs) "Yes, that's right lekin kya Karen? Satwik does not sport a beard he likes to be clean shaven" (Laughs heartily)
Me: (Nodding and wondering how he'll react to my next question) Okay, let's get a bit personal Mr.Nayyar
AN: "Ashish, call me Ashish please". (I can sense that he's getting a bit nervous)
Me: Oh it's just that I don't know you and I am not in the habit of calling people by their first name when I don't know them personally. Also, it sounds more professional when I am doing the interview.
AN:(a full throated laugh) "It's okay you can call me Ashish bhura nahin maan jaonga"
Me:(Phew! that's a pleasant relief. Now that the ice is broken) Tell me about your love life? Do you have a girl friend currently?
AN: (Squirming in his seat) "This is a very personal question and I would like to refrain from answering it."
Me: (seeing his embarrassment I try another approach) you are 30 and don't you think if you were indeed an eligible bachelor you would have been taken by now? (I am expecting to get thrown out any moment)
AN: (Smiles and Looks me straight in the eyes trying to intimidate me eh? I am as cool as a cucumber nothing will perturb me!) "You should ask this question from the girls".
Me: No, I think I like to pose this question to you.
AN: "I guess I have not met the right girl as yet."
Me: As yet?
AN: Smiles.
Me: So, is that a no? I mean you don't have a girl friend currently?
AN: (Smiles) "Next question Please"
Me: (sensing his discomfort I get great pleasure in ribbing him more) so what type of girl does Mr.Nayyar like?
AN: (he looks surprised at my persistence) "You don't give up easily, do you? (I shake my head) (he smiles and goes on) "well I like my girl to be intelligent, caring and ….".
Me: Go on
AN: "That's all I am going to say on this topic"
Me: I read one of your past interviews, and when asked, "How often do you say, I love you? Your answer was "Rarely". Have you not heard the Bryan Adams' song "Have you ever really loved a woman" ?
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one Cuz she needs somebody to tell her, that it's gonna last forever So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman? (I am beginning to really enjoy this interview)AN: ( Smiles which becomes a full throated laughter!). (Probably thinking I am nuts which of course, I am). "Next time I will remember that and I will make it a point to do so" (Laughs) and fires me a question "Any more advices?. (then says in an amused tone) "maana padega poori taiyari ke saath aayeho"
Me:No advices but if you need any, you should ask our IF Prof.of Love - Mink. She's good at it. She'll teach you a lesson or two. You know the usual Dos and the Donts:
AN:(Laughs Heartily and looks amused).
Me: Why is that you selectively reply to the PMs that you get?. Many on the IF members are quite upset about it?
AN:"First of all I don't have the time to answer all the PMs but I do make an attempt to read them all"
Me: Then why reply to a selected few? Are you only replying to those where you feel less threatened? I mean you don't like to get into tricky situations by replying to some of the PMs?
AN: "Yes and No. If I feel I have an answer to give them, then I reply"
Me: But that's not what I hear, I heard that you read them and they were sent to you while when you were online but you fail to give them a response?
AN: "It's not humanly possible to reply to all e-mails. Yes, I do reply to some of the PMs and I have no particular reason for doing so"
Me: A very politically correct answer
AN: (Raises his eyebrows and flashes a smile)
Me: The show has been extended by a minimum of 100 more Episodes. There have been some new entrants to the serial without any major dramatic incidents. Isn't the serial getting a bit stale?
AN: "The producers felt that this would bring more viewers with new interest. That was the reason behind the changes"
Me: But the audience feel this extension was detrimental to TD. It's lacking the speed and the spark it had before. What do you say for that?
AN: "Its possible. It may seem like that now, but give it some time and we will be back with a bang" (I wonder if its going to be Bang or a Thud!)
Me: There are lots of damsels in distress on the IF who are crazy about you and would like to hear something from you.
AN: (Laughs) "I love you too girls, keep watching TD, its nice to feel wanted and loved. I am deeply touched. An artist always craves for appreciation and it's nice to know that my work is being appreciated and liked"
Me: Why is it that every artist says that I want to be famous, I want my work to be recognized etc but once they achieve that, they say that I have lost my privacy and ignore their fans and act high and mighty? I mean it was the very same fans that made you a hit and once you achieve the star status, artists ignore them and even fail to acknowledge them?
AN: "Yes its very sad. That's part of the professional hazard. But you have to understand the artist too. They are so overworked and tired. The life span of an artist is very limited in this industry. So we try to take too much work to feel secure. Once you do that you fall in the rut and are overworked. You life too becomes public once you achieve fame and I resent that. I like my personal life to be separate from my public life. Which is hard but I try to maintain a balance"
Me: You have come a long way from your modeling days. You modeled for ICI bank, Elephant Atta, and Tilda Rice etc. How does it feel to be recognized finally? I mean this kind of fan fare and euphoria does it affect you? Do you feel "I am too good" kind of feeling?
AN: "I worked very hard for it and yes I am happy that I am at the position where I am in today. But no I don't forgetten the past either and try to be down to earth. Let's face it this phase is not going to last forever."
Me: Well Ashish, thank you for taking out the time to meet me. It was a pleasure talking to you. I wish you all the best in your future endevours.
AN: "Thank you for coming all the way to meet me and for giving me the opportunity to meet the IF members."
Me: (As a parting shot) I have been dying to ask one personal question, Can Ashish bend it like Beckam?
AN: (laughs heartily) "I try to, of course I am not perfect but I try to give my best shot" (laughs again and is highly amused)
So this was my interview with the famous Mr. Ashish Nayyar. After the interview I had one shaeri that kept popping up in my mind:
kisi pe karam tho kisi pe sitam yeh ada aapki
aap ke sitam ko samjhenge hum karam, yeh ada hamari
kisi se wafa kisi se bewafaii yeh ada aapki
aap ki bewafaii ko samjhenge wafa, yeh ada hamari
kisi ko iqraar kisi ko inkaar yeh ada aapki
aap ke inkar ko samajhte hai hum iqraar, yeh ada hamari
Stay tuned for my next Interview with Mr.Sachin Sharma!!!!
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
