‘I have always been grounded, and don’t take anything to my head’

Actor Maniesh Paul, who shot to fame with his wit and humour on his stage and screen appearances, says that there’s only one thing that has helped him reach here — his fans.

“I have always been grounded, and don’t take anything to my head. I don’t consider myself as a star or number one. We are humans, and that’s something that takes you places,” he tells us.

Indeed, which is often seen in the overwhelming fan encounters he often has, and the love that he receives from them. Revealing one such experience, he shares, “This female fan tweeted that she loved one of my shows that I was hosting. She said that ‘you put a smile on my face’. I called her on the set of the show, and she spent an entire day there. I told her after a while to come on the stage, but she was shy. I told her that there are no cameras, and when she came, she was so excited that she almost had tears in her eyes and said ‘I can’t believe you are standing in front of me!’ Why not? I feel happy because of such people.” Grateful, he adds, “It’s because of such people that I am what I am. If they don’t like my work, no one would be interviewing me like this.”

The actor, who was recently seen in the short film Black Briefcase, is now gearing up to release another. “I don’t plan too much and go with the flow. I am gearing up for my next short film. People have never seen me in that avatar, and hence I am happy with what I am doing,” says Maniesh.

It’s because of fans and their love, that I am what I am. If they don’t like my work, no one would be interviewing me like this.

MANIESH PAUL

ACTOR AND HOST