Remember Boney Kapoor's huge hit ‘Mr India'? After playing the villain Mogambo in that movie, Amrish Puri became the highest paid character actor, sometimes demanding as much as the hero. Today, Paresh Rawal is more versatile than Amrish Puri, handling various character roles, from villain to comedian. In the process, he has also become one of the highest paid character actors in Bollywood.
But ask him what his first love is and he answers, “The stage.” Rawal stepped into cinema from the stage. Since his college days, he has enacted more than 200 roles in Gujarati and Hindi plays. Today, Mumbai audiences are flocking to watch the thespian's latest ‘Krishan vs Kanhaiya.' Produced by his wife, former actor Swaroop Sampat, the play is directed by Umesh Shukla. When the director fell ill and was away for some time, 61-year old Rawal even took over as director.
‘Krishan vs Kanhaiya' is not a new production. It has often been staged in the U.S., where there is a demand for Gujarati plays. Aware of Rawal's popularity, producers rope him in for their plays and the audience response has been very encouraging.
Rawal returns to the Mumbai stage with the latest production, after 10 years.
A decade is a long break for such an ardent theatre lover, but Rawal has been one of the busiest actors in Bollywood. Even on days when he was not shooting, he used to go through hundreds of scripts for new productions. As a producer-director-actor, Rawal feels he has triple responsibility towards his theatre fans.
It is difficult for Mumbai theatre actors to attend rehearsals because they are constantly being poached by TV and film producers. “If you want to stage a good play, it takes time,” he points out.
Though he has excelled in comic roles in both films and on stage, Rawal prefers multiple themes that include the serious, comic, topical, satire and so on.
Unusual theme
‘Krishan vs Kanhaiya' has an unusual theme - the presence of god, our doubts about his existence and the clash between god and non-believers. A fascinating theme, full of contradictions. The dialogue touches upon ideologies and philosophies that are often discussed in India.
Once ‘Krishan vs Kanhaiya' is over and done with, Rawal is planning a major Gujarati play later this year. He is passionate about the role of Gujarati theatre in Mumbai and strongly refutes the accusations that it stages mostly slapstick comedy. “Look around you, there are Gujarati plays with a variety of themes. The comedies do well at the box office and you will agree that theatre needs money,” he says.
He admires the work of Naseeruddin Shah, both on stage and screen and would love to do a stage production with him. While on location shooting within India and abroad, Rawal tries to go for as many plays as possible. Films are okay, but it is nothing like being on the stage, reaching out to live audiences and being rewarded with appreciative applause. ‘Krishan vs Kanhaiya' should be no exception.
