INTERVIEW
“People come up to me and ask me to help them since they consider me to be Lord Shani. I consider playing the role in Mahima Shanidev Ki aired on Dangal TV as a blessing by the Lord himself”
DAYA SHANKAR PANDEY tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this exclusive e mail interview that he would like to direct in the future but only once he has made a good mark as an actor.
Tell me about your debut in the industry!
I made my debut with Pehla Nasha while in the Indian television industry I was assisting Gyan Shahay sir for his serial ‘Lene Ke Dene’ where besides assisting I was also playing a role in the serial. So, technically my debut serial was ‘Lene Ke Dene’ followed by ‘Tehkikaat’ which aired on Doordarshan. During the days of ‘Tehkikaat’, I assisted the production team for the first two episodes. During those days, Goldie sir use to wear a hat. I had gone to Masculin to bring that hat when I was an assistant in the production team. I use to rejoice on the fact that, the hat which Goldie sir is wearing was brought by me. Eventually I also played a role in the same serial.
What was your role in Tehkikaat?
Tehkikaat was an episodic serial based on crime drama. At the age of 28, I played the role of a young notorious boy who influences other boys in a negative way. I was a part of 2-3 episodes for that serial. During those days, nobody bothered about the age of an actor. All that we cared was to be blessed with work.Whenever a director or producer use to click my photographs; I used to tell myself that hopefully I will start getting more work.
Why didn’t you continue to seek roles in films?
Pehla Nasha is Ashutosh Gowariker’s film and I knew him very well. Ashustosh and I used to meet along with Ravi Baswani. We had a common friend from theatre named Mahendra Joshi. Sanjay Chhel was assisting Ashutosh for Pehla Nasha and he is a dear friend of me. He told me that there was a particular role for me. However, when the film released, few of my scenes were chopped and I had to re-watch the film to search for my scenes. At that time, the source for an actor to get acting offers were only two, first being in films and second being in serials on Doordarshan. For an actor to get one role, there were another 100 waiting in the queue.
Why did you choose an insecure career like acting?
There were times, when I actually felt like taking up a job instead of pursuing acting as a career. But, getting a job was also not easy at that time.
After being an actor doing small roles, overnight you became well known with 2 serials Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashma and Mahima Shanidev Ki!
Honestly speaking Lagaan gave me the platform where my talent was noticed. Lagaan was the turning point in my career. People started respecting me as an actor. Before this, I did Ghulam with Aamir Khan which was a big hit in 1996, where I had a prominent role to play. Though I didn’t achieve much stardom through that movie, people started noticing me. However, the struggle kept going on. During those days, I believe one needed luck and connection to move ahead in life and that was something which I was lacked. I have always been a shy person in nature and therefore I was hesitant to approach anybody for work. I believe that my work speaks for me. There were times, when people didn’t approach me for smaller roles assuming that I would deny due to my work in Lagaan and Ghulam.
Ashutosh Gowariker gave you a break with Pehla Nasha and you also did his films like What’s Your Rashi, Swades and Baazi. Why were you not a part of all his films?
When Ashutosh was doing Jodha Akbar, I was given the credit of acknowledgement for the film along with actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha and the queen of Jaipur to name a few. I was very much involved in the pre-production of the film as a friend. However, when the shoot for the film began, I was offered Mahima Shani Dev Ki and I preferred playing Lord Shani over the role being offered in Jodha Akbar since I had some financial needs at that time. Also, TV gives more money honestly. Playing the central role in a TV serial was something that I did not want to miss at all. And in the TV industry, frankly speaking, faces like that of mine don’t get title lead roles easily. I consider playing the role of Lord Shani as a blessing by the lord himself. I worked hard for the role and now nearly a decade later, people are still talking it. The show is doing extremely well on Dangal channel and is consistently being in the top 5 shows every week.
How did you get the role of Shani?
Way back in 1993, I was assisting Shahab Shamsi for a serial named Tiger to earn some quick money. I would assist for 10-12 days and then would look out for acting opportunities. Eventually I got busy working on projects, but in 2008 I got a call from Shahab Shamsi. He asked me if I would be interested in being a part of a mythological show to which I instantly agreed. I wasn’t informed about the role, however for me getting work was more important. I was called to Ramanand Sagarji’s office where they told me about the serial Mahima Shanidev Ki. Shahab Shamsi who was the creative director for the serial was confident that I would be perfect for the role of Lord Shani. While I was seated in Shiv Sagar’s (grandson of Ramanand Sagar) cabin, he noticed my face and told me that I resemble Lord Shanidev. I auditioned after 2 days and did a look test and within 30 minutes I received a message saying that I was shortlisted for doing the role of Shani. At that time “mera shani chal raha tha” and the role of Shani came in my kundli at the right time.
What do you have to say about the channel Dangal?
Dangal’s GRP currently is the highest amongst all its competitors. It is an extremely popular channel in the north, since it is a free-to-air channel. Most of the leading producers such as Saurabh Tiwari and Nikhil Sinha to name a few have associated with the channel. The channel is currently leading the ratings chart. This is the second re-run of Mahima Shanidev Ki on it.
After playing the lead in Mahima Shani Dev Ki, you were offered another smaller role of the same character in Suryaputra Karn but this wasn’t a lead? Why did you agree to do it?
To be honest, I was not creatively satisfied with my role in Suryaputra Karn. After listening to the script and the way they explained it to me, I was excited. Shani and Suryaputra (both are sons of Gods) would be playing parallel roles. Soon I realized that the track was not as what was narrated to me. I told them I would not be able to continue and left the show after just two episodes.
At least were you happy with what was paid to you?
Money was not my priority. Financially I faced a loss because you know how it functions with production houses. If you do a good job you are offered other roles when the production house comes up with new shows. However, post that I received a lot of offers to play the role of Shani on other channels but I didn’t take them up. I took up the role of Sudama on &TV. The track was for about 4 months.
Can you analyze your growth as an actor from 1993 till now as an actor?
I wasn’t a trained actor. I idolized actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Omprakash and Mehmood. Looking at their roles and how they played characters I learnt a lot. After college I went out and got the opportunity to become somebody’s assistant. The only two sources of entertainment were Doordarshan and Cinema and not too many opportunities to act were there.The learning process with me was an everyday affair. After every shot I gave, I learnt something and always felt I could have performed it better and tried to figure if there was a scope of improvement. I always take inspiration from other actors and the ease with which they play a particular character. This is an internal growth I can talk about. In terms of how I have improved on screen is something which the audience will be able to tell better. I am satisfied with the growth which I have seen internally.
How easy is it to strike a right balance between acting and directing?
Initially, direction in television was not a very lucrative option. I have seen people who have directed and received lot of success and sometimes I too feel that probably I could have continued with direction. However, I know subconsciously that I am an actor and the kind of satisfaction I receive after acting is something that probably I wouldn’t have received from direction. Definitely, I would like to direct in the future but only once I have made a good mark as an actor.
You have directed few shows of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah!
I was actually a consultant creative director and did not do any direction on ground. There was another show where Asit Modi was the producer, Yeh Duniya Hai Rangeen which Dharampal and I used to direct together in the year 2000. Post that Lagaan released in the year 2001 and after that I got films like Gangajal & Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost. I got busy with acting.
Did you fall out with Ashutosh Gowarikar after you opted out of his Jodha Akbar?
No. I was offered a role in Khelein Hum Jee Jaanse but I did not take it up. Whenever Ashutosh offered a role to me I was already doing some project. I was doing Panipat and my son Chirantan Pandey was assisting him. Simultaneously, I was busy with the TV show Sudama and 20 days were dedicated to the show. Ashutosh was aware that I had a commitment with monetary income.
Why are you not a permanent fixture in Prakash Jha’s films after working in 3 movies with Prakash Jha?
I did 4 films with Prakash Jha – Raajneeti, Apaharan, Gangaajal and Chakravyuh. I only wasn’t a part of Jai Gangaajal. It brings me back to the clash between the casting agency and director’s casting decision. When Yashji wanted Sanjeev Kumar in Trishul he had a vision for the movie and he made it happen by hook or by crook, as it was the director’s vision. While Deewar happened, Hangal Sir had to shoot for a role only for one day but now when I look back at the movie, it was an essential role. Some roles are special and I feel that the right casting for the team done by the director plays a dynamic role for a movie.I did a Gujarati movie called Reva, where I even got nominated as a supporting actor. I only shot for 3 days. Like for Gangaajal I shot only for 6 days but none was repeated including me and Mohan Joshi.
