This writer and director has had a long association with comedy and Kapil, and been an integral part of his show. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, he spoke about them all.
Edited excerpts from the interview
How would you describe your journey as a writer?
It has been a long journey. I came from Jaipur in 2000, and began working with Balaji and wrote some non fiction shows. That’s how it all began. I knew I could work in direction as well. I did theatre in Jaipur, so you learn a lot. I had all the options in Mumbai. I wrote a show called Superhit Muqabla on Doordarshan.
I worked with Johnny Lever and that was a turning point of my career. He introduced me to directors Abbas Mustan. I met Kapil Sharma in between as well and my association with him was really long. We have been working together for the last 14 years through his show. And now we are doing Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2.
What is the difference between writing a film and a show?
The process for both is completely different. One is a non-fiction show. And we are dependent a lot on improvisation. The writing for a non-fiction show never ends..
How different is Kapil Sharma as an actor from what we see him do on his show?
When we see him do comedy on his show, it's a non-fiction format and there are no limitations for you as a performer. But when he acts in a film, that's a fictional world, where he plays a character. He's aware that there will be limitations to his improvisation, and he does really well in films as well. The only challenge was he had to give his best understanding those limitations as an actor.
Which are your favourite comedies in Hindi cinema?
I have been watching comedies right from the era of Kishore Kumar- Right from Half Ticket to Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. I have followed Mehmood, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Chatterjee; everything that David Dhawan has made has been good. As a comedian- Mehmood, Johnny Walker, Johnny Lever, Akshay Kumar has been really good, Govinda has been a master, and now Kapil Sharma.
