COMEDY TOUGH IN A PANDEMIC, BUT LAUGHS A MUST
For actors, who are trying to make audiences laugh with their antics on the screen, it’s essential to keep their fears at bay
It’s not easy to make people laugh, more so in trying times like these. And actors who are shooting for comedy shows admit that the fear of the virus, combined with the change in shooting culture due to safety protocols, is affecting them.
Shubhangi Atre aka Angoori of Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain! shares that evoking laughter during a crisis isn’t easy. “Earlier we’d spend time together, improvise and have fun. But now, we just come, get ready and start shooting as we need to create a bank of episodes. There’s a constant thought of not touching anything or going near anyone while performing. But, we also need to deliver well as punch lines, expression and timing are crucial factors in comedy. Thankfully, our script makes things easier,” she tells us.
Echoing the sentiment is actor-comedian Krushna Abhishek, who recently shot for his show The Kapil Sharma Show. He agrees that getting “into the mood of it” is tough. “I even fumbled a bit on my first day of shoot but we kind of included it as a joke. This is a tough space for everyone and your mind is not in that state,” he adds.
A performer can’t let heavy
Unlike many who’re still sceptical to step out for work, actor Aishwarya Sakhuja has resumed the shoot for her TV show. And she says it brought normalcy back into her life, though the circumstances are indeed unusual.
“It’s not that anybody forced me. The past four months have been the correction phase, and I need normalcy in my life. I stepped out as I was under a commitment. My producer must have suffered already, that (not going back to work) wouldn’t have been right,” reasons the 33-year-old. The first few days were “very overwhelming” for Sakhuja, as she tells us, “I was careful about being under self-quarantine (during the lockdown). For me, to acclimatise myself to his new situation was a task because I had genuinely stayed at home throughout. It took us a while to get back into the groove to see people. The first day I got back from work, I was so alert; we were more focused on social distancing.” When Sakhuja first read the safety thoughts affect them so much that it shows on their face, feels actor-comedian Kiku Sharda, who says “the camera doesn’t miss anything”. Sharda, who plays various characters in The Kapil Sharma Show, explains, “Making people smile through this anxious period matters the most. The worry, fear and dealing with the new normal is a little tough but if we don’t enjoy ourselves while performing and feel the pressure, that would reflect in guidelines laid down by the Maharashtra government to resume shoots, she admits wondering how they would be executed. “The first few days were tough, but that’s the beauty of being human, we adapt and adapt. It didn’t sound rosy on papers, when the guidelines came to us, and we were wondering as to how we will be able to pull it off,” she says.
Everyone was, however, confident once things went on floors, she adds. “The industry is resilient. We know we’ll have to make do with whatever is being offered to us if we want to resume, and that’s exactly what we did. It’s difficult even now, we’re just getting used to it. It’s a temporary phase and will go away,” she hopes. our performance.”
Paresh Ganatra, aka Mahendra Thakkar in Bhakarwadi, agrees, saying, “The moment I start from home till I reach the set, I remain worried. But, once I get into the costume and become my character, I keep those thoughts at bay and focus on my job. Since I love what I do, I concentrate on my performance.”
While actors opine it’s tough to create laughs when everyone is dealing with a pandemic,they try to stay focused on sets. Actor Deven Bhojani, who has done several popular sitcoms and now seen as Anna in Bhakarwadi, says the team started off with a mock shoot day so that people starting to work after 100 days feel at ease. “Nothing can take the performer away from us. I agree there’s a sense of fear. But I plan out my routine in a way that I don’t think about catching the infection and can concentrate on my performance,” he shares.
Having lived the character of Anjali in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah since 2008, actor Neha Mehta says that playing the role now comes naturally to her. And such a situation can make things difficult but not impossible.
“Our efforts are towards twisting the sadness into happiness, the way we’ve been doing for so long. Bahut siyaape aate rahenge, par hum nahi rukenge,” she sums up the sentiment.
Shreya Mukherjee
Rishabh Suri
TV acting nahi chalega’ is something that actor Iqbal Khan has had to hear on many occasions during his experience with Bollywood directors and producers.
“Frustrated” by the prejudices that exist about TV actors in the minds of filmmakers, he asks, “What is TV acting? These terms keep coming up... I’ve been in the spot a couple of times, (when) acting wise, I may have been slightly better than the other person but just because the person has a background in films, he got the role and not me. I’ve lost out on films just because I’m a TV actor.”
Khan also admits that this very concept is there in the minds of TV show makers, too. “When one does TV, there are a lot of limitations. Makers think that the audience has to be spoonfed. They often say, ‘act in TV fashion’. It’s not my belief,” he rues.
While the actor agrees that this attitude exists, he feels that OTT platforms are a relief to people like him as they have opened up more opportunities. “For the actors also, it’s a massive rescue. It’s a win-win situation for anyone who’s creatively involved. There’s no limit to anything anymore, which gives you a freedom to get into an area where you usually would not,” says Khan, whose latest web show is out.
The actor also feels that web is a level playing field, since everything is driven by talent. “Both in TV and films, there’s math and science involved. But on OTT platforms, by default, it’s about if you’re good, it’s going to work. Only content works. No matter how many big production houses and big stars have come on OTTs, if the content hasn’t been up to the mark, it hasn’t worked. There are a lot of TV actors out there who’re just actors, given a chance, they’ll do really good,” he concludes.
DSUEE AHSLS AMPSCU IOSVDH
Juhi Chakraborty