He ignited audience hope with “Maachis”, but shortly fizzled out. After a forgettable role in “Chaar Din Ki Chandni”, Chandrachur Singh will be seen in a cookery show on Food Food channel, wherein he plays the host for various royal households in Rajasthan. He will explore their cuisine as well as lifestyle and culture.
Here he talks about his passion for cooking and the new turn in his career.
Excerpts from an interview with the actor.
With so many cookery shows on every channel, how is “Royal Rasoi” different?
It is not just a cookery show, it is an experience. Cooking and eating are a part of it, but there is much more to the show. In every episode, I am hosted by one of the royal families of Rajasthan as it shares the royal cooking and recipes. Along with that, the architecture, culture and the history of the area have been encapsulated in every episode. Cooking is a very important facet of the royal life, and this show strives to showcase the reverence that goes with it. It is intellectually stimulating to know more about the royals and how they influenced the culture and cuisine of the region. How did cooking become a passion for you?
The elders in my family had a list of their own recipes that they would prepare regularly. Once, I tried to make my first dish, and it turned out to be successful. That's where I picked on, and from then whenever we were in the mood for a good home cooked meal, I would cook for the family. I would prepare both non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian dishes with mutton, chicken, dal, vegetables and potatoes. I was taught very early that a good dish has one distinctive flavour, and should not be crowded with many. Coming from a royal lineage yourself, do you feel it makes a difference in adjusting to the demands ofentertainment industry?
I don't think it makes any difference. What matters is your conduct and who you are. The right conduct alone can help you win over people.
We may have titles, but we have had a culture of hard work and honesty. My parents were very hard working, and in the family, we value money. Work ethic and other values are inculcated in us from the beginning. And we are taught to be consistent in our work. Obviously, once you have made your mark in the field, you can talk about it, but it really doesn't make any difference.
Like cooking, music has also been one of your passions, with which you started your career. From being a music teacher, how did you move to acting?
I always thought becoming a teacher would be a wonderful, as I believe it is a noble profession. Earlier, when cinema wasn't working out for me, I was trying to get a job as a teacher.
Then I got a permanent job as a music teacher, but eventually the route changed for me as I got a break in cinema. But music certainly remains my passion. Music is a universal language. It is unfortunate that post Independence, great musicians of our country with such immense talent have had to struggle so much.
After a great start, your film career saw a dip. I was looking at it more creatively than I should have. Now, I have realised cinema is a commercial art. I had trouble accepting it earlier as the environment I began in, with ‘Maachis' and spending time with Gulzar saab , was very creatively inspiring.
After that, I suddenly entered a creatively uninspiring environment, and back then, I was not prepared for it. It was not my cup of tea.
My interpretation of success was different. Also, I had health problems and then there were a few wrong decisions too.
