Part I


Salil:
Hello and welcome to star stop. Aaj ek bahot hi special din hain kyon ki kuch aise artist bache the jinse main mulakat nahin kar paya tha , interview nahin le paaya tha unka,and I was a big fan of. Today I have a gentleman with me who is a huge crowd puller , people just go to see a film to just watch paresh rawal in action. Thank you so much for joining in our show sir.

Paresh Rawal:
Thank you

Salil
Long journey .. bahot saare mereko pages mile the, we are trying to assimilate paresh rawal’s career outline in twenty pages is very difficult…from arjun to the latest one one two three, long journey has it been very very difficult or?

Paresh Rawal:
No I think it was very easy because I think I consider myself to be very lucky and though I was theatre trained so I had my theatre to fall back on so I was not feeling fustrated either and I knew that sooner or later and I will be able to enter this film world and start my career.

Salil:
Abhi shooting mein woh javed akhtar saab jab aap se mile the who convince the ke aapko film karni chahiye ya, how was the interaction with him at that point of time, is he your mentor at that point of time

Paresh Rawal:
No no he was not my mentor but huya tha yeh ke mera play tha karim murani ne much before arjun and then arjun ke liye when they were looking for the guy to play that particular role toh karim murani suggested my name to rahul rawail. I met rahul rawail and jab pehle din ki shooting huyi toh bolte hain bahot achha kaam karte ho and you will be there in all my films, baad mein jaaved saab neb hi dekha bolte hain abhi aapko bohot hi achha role denge, that saal unki jo doosri film, dacait, uske ander mujhe role mila aur baad mein waha se journey shuru huyi baad mein naam aayi , yeh sab..

Salil:
Acha jab starting huyi thi industry mein us samay aisa tha ke bahot hi hero dominated industry tha today thankfully it is no longer like that that time..when you were looking at your future prospect ki mera career yahan se yahan kahan tak jayega was it a very enterprising time for you, ke aap sochte the ke age ke sochenge nahin bas agle film ke liye sochenge?

Paresh Rawal:
In fact maine aise kabhi socha hi nahin ke hero dominated hain ki Punjabi dominated because I am coming from a gujrati family toh mujhe kabhi aisa laga hi nahin aur main gujrati theatre bhi kiya tha aur hindi theatre bhi kar raha tha main toh kabhi maine aisa socha bhi nahin tha ke aisa aisa hoga, mujhe achhi acting karni thi aur mr. shah mr. nassiruddin shah hain ohm pure jii hain aise kayaker … toh mujhe laga ke mujhe is kisim ki acting karni thi nothing beyond that maine kabhi yeh socha nahi tha ke main yeh kar paunga ya mujhe who banna hain aisi koi khwaish nahin thi meri acha kaam karma hain jo role mile achhi tarike so karu that’s it

Salil
Aur paiso ka kabhi consideration aaya tha beech mein ?

Paresh Rawal:
Paiso ka hamesha consideration raha hain hamesha main yeh manta hu ke jo cheez aap…..agar aap apni keemat nahin samjho get toh saamne wala toh samjhe ga hi nahin

Salil:
I was reading an interview of yours and was smiling where you felt that …that… you felt that you have become very money minded now as far as film making is concerned

Paresh Rawal:
Not money minded but lekin hain ke main apne aap ko kaphi kuch saste mein de raha tha…

Salil
(smiling)
achha!!

Paresh Rawal:
toh mujhe laga ki aisa jaroori nahin hain

Salil:
so how is the procedure in a film world jab tum achha kaam kar rahe hote ho aur phir aage se ……..samne koi aapke price raise nahin karta hain is there a feeling of insecurity or darr kagta hain ke when you start raising your price and start demanding a few things then and there..

Paresh Rawal:
mujhe yeh lagta hain ki(hmmnn..) jab naya naya actor aata hain who achha kaam karta hain fresh rehta hain tab usko kam paise milte hain jab who wohi apna bechna shuru kar deta hain toh use zyada paise milte hain kyon ki tab tak aap successful ho gaye hain kaphi arse se aap industry mein rahe hain aur thore bahot crowd puller bhi ho gaye hain toh aapko paise mil jata hain uske baad yeh hota hain ki kabhi kabhar aap paise bara dete hain taki saamne wala naa kahe agar aapko picture nahin karni hain…toh kabhi kabhar aap paise bara dete hain ki saamne waale ki zaroorat kitni hain who dekhte hue aur main… jo jo project rehta hain main us hisaab sa paise charge karta hoon main yeh nahin ke mera itna paisa hain koi bata rate nahin hain. Jaise mr. shah ki film ki thi”yun hota toh kya hota”uske andar toh maine bahot hi kam paise liye the aur agar koi bari film aayee toh main uss hisab se paise leta

Salil:
shah saab ki film ki baat hain toh us mein toh aapne gaana bhi gaya tha?

Paresh rawal:
Jee haan

Salil:
So are you a bathroom singer ya phir actually aap…

Paresh Rawal:
No no I have been trained as a singer but for…ek jo musical play kiya tha maine ”khallaiya” barso pehle gujrati mein uske andar we were all singing.

Salil:
Now aaj kal kaphi log gaa rahe hain filmo mein

Paresh Rawal:
Haan!! Wohi toh gaana asaan ho gaya naa kyonki aap toh sirf gala dekho who toh sab computer kar deta hain toh

Salil:
(laughing)
phark lekin aisa hain ke genuine talent aur…jise kehte hain naa ki computerized talent mein bahot phark hota hain but it will be nice to chat with him also and would like to find out what he felt the turning point of his career kaphi kuch baatein paresh rawal jii ke saath will be right back don’t go anywhere.

Music (break)

Salil:
All right we are back on star stop hamare saath hain paresh rawal ji….. thank you so much again for joining us sir ….paresh rawal ke saath acting karna asaan hain ya phir mushkil hain..supposing ke agar main aapke saath kabhi scene mein aaya… maine eek aur line pari thi ek interview mein ki agar ek larka aapko duffer lagta hain as an actor then you keep a distance from him…is it scary to act with you because you are very in prompt to, great sense of timing so it must be very intimidating also.

Paresh Rawal:
No no….. not at all kyon ki main sirf apna kaam karke chale jata hun, main yahan pe kisi ko sikhane nahi aaya hoon aur kisi ko yeh batane nahin ke kaise karne chahiya…aur har aadmi ka apna apna ek andaz hota hain aur har aadmi ka apna apna ek alag tarika hota hain kaise karne ka ek scene aur baad mein director bhi hain aur writer bhi toh mera kaam toh hain hi nahin ki kaise kya karma hain aur uske baad hain ke main jab aata hoon set pet oh mujhe acha sa atmosphere hona chahiye toh kaam karne ka mazaa aata hain that’s why I am a very uncomplicated kind of an actor and person also main seedha kaam karke nikal jaata hoon naa kisi ke lene mein naa kisi ke dene mein

Salil:
Lekin jab aap scene karte ho to lagta nahin ke aap koi script padh rahe ho mujhe toh aisa lagta hain ke script ke paanch line hue honge hain aur bees line e paresh ji ke bole hue honge…do you improvise a lot on your script?

Paresh Rawal:
We do improvise a lot kyon ki ….. mane…. of course with the permission and approval of the writer, director lekin kabhi kabhar hume aisa lagta hain ke yaar yeh likha gaya hain kaise, yeh bhi bol de yaa acha rehega … you know…pooch leta hun unse key eh yeh hain , toh bolte hain haan “good good karo” ya toh kabhi kabhar suppose koi director naa bhi bol de ke” nahin yeh jaayega nahin”aur baat sahi bhi hoti hain so we don’t do it

Salil:
Main wohi aapse pooch raha tha ke kisine “naa” bol diya toh aap log nahi karte hain phir

Paresh Rawal:
Haan main nahin karta

Salil:
I think that’s the way it should be, the director sometimes is in charge of the ship if you listen to them I think it works. Turning point in your career waise toh bahot huye honge? But the one…the first turning point where you felt ki “waah abhi thora mujhe lag raha hain ki the bollywood has given me the respect… you know”

Paresh Rawal:
Nahin as far the respect is concerned I got that respect from my first shot onward from the arjun because that is where the “ e you are a very good actor, very good actor …kammal hain”yeh toh respect hi tha doosri baat respect ko leke yeh tha ke I knew my job mujhe mane overconfident sound nahin kar raha hoon I hope but I knew ke aisa aisa karna chahiye but turning point yun kahiye ke mujhe pata tha ke I am a kind of a character actor I am not a hero I am not going to run around the trees , I am not going to get the girl, who toh baat hain hi main character actor hun oh mujhe character actor ke ander mujhe acha kaam karma hain toh jab mujhe log brand karne lage ke bhaiyya he is a very good villain toh main kehta tha ke main villain nahin hoon main har kisam ka role kar sakta hoon abhi bhi main kehta hoon ke I am not a comedian not only a comedian har kisam ka role kar sakta hoon toh mujhe yeh toh pata tha ki main alag alag kisam ke role kar sakta hoon to turning point yun kahiye ke kisis bhi film ke success se …kisi bhi film ke success ya failer mujhe affect nahi karti because I am a character actor agar hero ko phark parta toh hero ki price ya bar jati ya gir jati but mujhe yeh tha ke lag alag kisam ke jab role milte hain tab mujhe lagta hain ke mujhe mazaa aa raha tha ki toh turning point main yeh kahunga ki sardar film kyon ki un dino main sirf villain ka role karta tha aur toh ketan Mehta ka aana ketan Mehta jaise itne bare director ka aana aur yeh role dena aur kaaphi opposition tha aur screen test liye gaye the kaphi logo ke and then I was selected toh kaphi logo ne kahan ke bhaiyya yeh aadmi villain ke role kar raha hain aur aap unse yeh karvaoge?ketan Mehta ne kaha tha ke main ise janta hun as an actor kyon ki he directed a play of mine “one flew off the cuckoo’s nest in 83-84 toh kahe I know paresh rawal after say ten fifteen seconds agar aap ko paresh rawal bhi dikhe iske andar toh meri haar hogi aur kisi bhi surat mein aapko villain willian nazar aayega I will go with it toh I think that was my turning point somebody’s faith in me as an actor that really changed my gears you know

Salil:
But did you do…at that point of time when you were being offered sardar was there a lot of pressure on you also kyon ke not only your name was at stake but ketan jee’s name was also on stake

Paresh Rawal:
Aur main pehli baar kisi real life character play kar raha tha “sardar patel” mein aur pressure toh of couse rehta hi hain because you are attempting something very very huge but jahan tak saamne wale ka confidence rahega main apni jaan laga dunga agar samne wale ka confidence nahin ho toh thora darr lagta hain ki kyon ki director ka kaam hain ki aisa atmosphere khara karwa ke banda aake kaam kare . mujhe is band eke saamne emotionally nanga hona hain toh I must respect him

Salil:
Respect I think is very important and I think that is what the adulation is also came in the form of the award which must have been a good thing also because that’s like a little toffee at the end of having done a great job

Paresh Rawal:
Yaa I mean job hi hard work kiya hain uska ek acknowledgy hota hain but mujhe kisi bhi award milne se main genuinely kehta hun mujhe koi phark nahi parta because jo char ya paanch log jo mujhe jaante hain as an actor jinhone mera growth dekha hain who log mujhe kaise evaluate karte hain unke comments se mujhe phark parta hain

Salil:
Who are these four five people that you respect?

Paresh Rawal:
Like the one is neeraj vohrah, because we are working from theatre days , aushutosh gowarikar, theatre day se saath mein kaam kar rahein hain, ketan bhai hain , naseer bhai hain om ji hain jab who phone karke bolte hain ke paresh tera kaaam ismein achha laga toh bahot khushi hoti hain

Salil:
I think your peers always always help you out more will take a little break right now and come right back…ek bahot ache mudde ki baat ki thi yahaan pe paresh jii ne character actors and I think paresh rawal who is single handedly responsible for taking character actors to another level to the extent where they no longer seems to be character actors and everyone sort of became character’s in the film we take a little break and come right back don’t go away this is star stop

Music(break)

Salil:
Allright star stop pe aap hain mere saath salil ke saath aur hamare saath hain paresh rawal jii thankyou again for joining us sir character actors ke hum baat kar rahein the before we left and I think yeh jo graduation hua tha to an extent where even hero villain and director they all became characters of the film there was no demarcation largely thanks to you, well lot of people in the industry do thank you for that Where You started getting good money …you started getting great roles and you all were able to become crowd pullers today you are firmly at the top of that list so is this…..

Paresh Rawal:
Mujhe lagta hain thora sa ..that some correction is required because ..character actor ka jo hi daam bare hain ya price bari hain I think thanks to nana patekar

Salil:
Is it??

Paresh Rawal:
Ya! ya! Because unhone ek picture karne ke baad mein seedhe ek karor maang liye and of course he deserves and he deserves more than that toh seedhe laga ke bhaiyya yeh toh hero se bhi upar hain kaise denge kaise denge log dete the…logo ko dena parta that oh I think a…a…uske baad shayad mera naam aa sakta hain… unke baaad

Salil:
But I also feel that the versatility that has been shown by you that is tremendous aaj beshak aap ko log comedy king mein zyada dekh rahein hain …who bahot pasand aa gaya logo ko toh king of comedy jo aap ko dena chahte hain does it irritate you as an actor? Ke log apko ek slot mein daalne ki koshish karte hain?

Paresh Rawal:
Ya!mujhe slot mein daalne ki koshish karte hain who mujhe bilkul pasand nahin hain but irritate mujhe baat tab karti hain jab yaar koi bhi banda aa jata hain kisi bhi kisim ka script leke and kehte hain ki paresh jii aap karo naa…aap kar lo naa toh main aisa actor hun jo main sab kuch kar nahin sakta hoon kyon ki very few…nobody can rather I mean rise about the script ….toh kaam karte nahin hain mental bancruptsy hain humare industry mein kuch bhi likh kar aajete hain bole key eh comedy kar lenge… I have seen mr. jhonny lever who is a….bahot hi tremendous artist hain…matlab unke jaisa observation of life mein kisi bhi actor ka nahin hain unko bhi bol de ke jhonny bhai aap kar dijiye naa kuch bhi kar lijiye naa….yaar kya karu… kitni gulatiya khau main yaar…bolte hain aap kar lijiye naa…aap kar lijiye naa tab bahot irritation hota hain jab bhi gandi script aati hain toh..

Salil:
Toh aaj lekin who script ko dekh kar you are able to differentiate at this stage also now or still very difficult to figure out what is a good script and what is a bad script…what is the essential part about choosing a film?

Paresh Rawal:
No kya hota hain ki with all honesty the script padh ke samajh mein aa jata hain ke kahan jaane waala hain kahan nahi jaane waala hain then we sit down and unse pooch leta hunk e bhaiyya yeh kaise karoge, yeh kaise hoga iska kya banega, tab who bata deta hain… somehow everything changes on set the way how to go about it that changes poora uska jo naksha bana hain poora change ho jata hain and there is very…I mean absolutely…

Salil:
You loose perspective…..

Paresh Rawal:
Too late to back out you know ab kuch kar nahin sakte…thik hain phir jitna bhi hota hain seedha baandh ke apne aapko

Salil:
Khatam karo….

Paresh Rawal:
Khatam kar do…jitna bhi ho sake fast khatam kar do

Salil:
Hali mein kuch aise role kiya hain jis mein aapko bara mazaa aaya tha karnemein?the last say….

Paresh Rawal:
I think…this year mere aane wali filmo mein ek hain ek “maharathi” karke hain toh maharathi jo play hain because maharathi ko humne more that 700 shows kiye hain and it’s a fantastic thriller with comedy toh mujhe play karne mein matlab uski film banayi hain humne abhi complete huyi… mazaa isliye aaya because jin actoro ke saath mein kaam karma chahta hoon unke saath kaam karunga…nasir bhai hain om jii hain boman irani hain ..toh it’s a very taought thriller…very tight thriller who hain fir doosri priyam ji ki film “mere baap pehle aap” phir myself and akshay khanna again I think after hulchul we are coming together phir hain divakar banerjee ki film jo khosla ka ghosla jinhone banayee….

Salil:
Correct….

Paresh Rawal:
Unki picture”oye lucky lucky oye” I think that is again a big turning point for me because that director came to me bole ki aap is mein teen role karenge

Salil:
Achha oye…..lucky….

Paresh Rawal:
Teen role yaar….maine kaha yaar mat karao aise aap phasoge…bolte hain nahin nahin mujhe yakeen hain..bola phir thik hain main toh phir as it is surrender kar dunga aap ke upar hain aur mujhe yeh lagta hain ki result bahot achha aaya hain.. I think they are very happy ….toh yeh aur doosri nishikant kamath ki film hain dombivalley express…..dombivalley fast jinhone banayi thi…naam hain Mumbai meri jaan…toh yeh jo teen char filmein hain yeh is saal release hone waali hain, alag alag kisam ke role hain mujhe karne mein bahot mazaa aaya as an actor bahoy maza aaya aur mujhe poora yakin hain logo ko bhi bahot mazaa aayega..

Salil:
Perfect…2008 is going to be a great year and I think I always look forward to paresh rawal jiis films and I think aap ke wife ka yogdaan aapke life mein bhi kaphi strong raha hoga

Paresh Rawal:
Bahot bahot….

Salil:
Is she a fan …is she a friend…..or does she stay away from you filmy life?

Paresh Rawal:
Yaar itne saal ho gaye hain shaadi ke toh koi fan toh reh hi nahi sakta(smiling) but a… yun kahiye ki everything kabhi critic bhi hain kabhi apne aap ko dull mehsoos karte ho… ke yaar ke lack of confidence hain toh boost kar deti hain aapka confidence she is a…..

Salil:
I guess home makers are the toughest part to do …the toughest role to play

Paresh Rawal:
Ya ya

Salil:
Par yeh sabsi achhi baat yeh hain ke London ke viewers ko bhi aap se milne ka ek mauka milne wala hain aur you are going to quiet a few places in England and you are looking forward to that trip?

Paresh Rawal:
Ya !! bahot hi kamal ka natak hain ‘shaadi @ barbadi.com’ natak ka naam hain..its a comedy about marriage..life and… hota hain naa ki hum log…aap jab kisi ka jhagra dekhte ho filmo mein ya natak mein toh aapko hasi aati hain aur wohi jhagra jab aaap khud karte ho toh life and death ka sawaal bana ke larte ho…usi baat ko lekar kahani hain ki yeh ki kuch hain nahi baato mein dum rakha nahi hain aur poori adjustment hoti hain lekin that’s again a huge hit play of mine and we have done some 150 shows all over the world

Salil:
I think its brilliant how you are able to handle both the careers because its like you keep going back to school and keep coming back…

Paresh Rawal:
Ya ya (smiling)

Salil:
Its superb I think creativity is very important for an actor to keep going back to the roots…paresh ji thank you so much for joining me

Paresh Rawal:
Thank you

Salil:
It was wonderful but a … yeh sirf part one hain abhi toh picture baaki hain mere dost….. Paresh jii ke saath dobara mulakat hogi hamari aur…

You canwrite to me at salil@b4uworld.com