He is God — lord of Death, Yamraj. He is also a misfit, a husband and a man who has to provide for his family. Rajesh Kumar who plays Yam in Yam Kisi Se Kam Nahin on Epic channel tells SHAlINI SAKSENA that acting came to him by chance and that the finite show is all about entertaining the viewers with a simple storyline
How does a graduate from Hindu College get into actingIJ
I never planned for things to work out for me. I can’t say that I was looking for a great profession at that time. Nor was acting anywhere within my reach. But after graduating I happended to be in Mumbai. And people who are familiar with Mumbai life will tell you that while one can spend the day doing nothing, but the nights are different. It was then that I approached a college freind of mine. I asked him if I could do a play. He put me in touch with another Hindu passout who was making a serial. And the rest is history. I stuck to it more because the money was very good. The acting and the creativity came much later.
What is the USP of Yam Kisi Se Kam NahinIJ
There are two main things that work in favour of the show. First, the storyline is very straightforward. There are no complexities involved. Second, it is told very simply. There are few characters — only five main patrs that one gets to see. Also the fact that it is a 20-minute episode means that there are no frills or fancies. There is entertainment and it doesn’t get carried forward to the next time which means that one can see it anytime and still enjoy it.
Is that why you said yes to do the showIJ
When I read the script, I loved the concept and how it will be dealt with. The fact it is simple, didn’t have many characters and that the main protagonist — Yam — is the underdog is what makes this serial so interesting. There was no way that I would have said no to doing it.
Did you have any apprehensions in playing YamIJ
None. He is very interesting to play. If one looks from the point of view that he is the God of Death and yet there is a funny side to him makes him a loveable character. Also, I think Yam is one God whom one can show in a different light.
Do you think that people’s perception of Yamraj will change somewhatIJ
Yamraj is seen as a God whom one has to fear; He is huge, scary and very dark — how one would see death to be. But in the show, he is fair, not scary at all and a man who does funny things. So while he will always be seen as the lord of Death, may be people won’t fear Him so much now that they have seen him doing household chores like a common man on Earth and trying to please his human wife.
You are associated with comic roles. Is it a conscious decision to take up such showsIJ
When I first started off, I always thought that doing comedy was very difficult. Doing a role where one has to cry and find a connection with the audience is easy. One has to put glycerine in the eyes for tears and say a few emotional dialogues and one can make the viewers cry. But to do comedy is different. One has to find a real connect with the audience to make him laugh. So I took up the challenge of doing such roles. Then I got good at it. People loved me in this genre. So I got more offers for doing comic shows. But that is the advantage of doing sitcoms which began with Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai and now continues with Yam... However, I did a negative role — a single episode — in a show recently. I am told I should only do negative role. I would love to do more negative roles or a character with negative shades. But till I get offers for that, I will stick to doig what I do best — comedy.
What are the other projects in the pipelineIJ
Once this 40-episode of Yam... is over, the planning for the second season will start. I love this whole concept of seasons. You shoot the limited episodes at a stretch. Take a break; Plan for the next season; Shoot that and so forth. It keeps the viewers interested and the show fresh.
What about filmsIJ
Definitely open to offers. I just did Super Nani plus a couple of other movies earlier as well.