Jay Soni is back on TV with Bhaag Bakul Bhaag on Colors after a three-year break. He talk to AKANKSHA SONI about his role & fun moments
What made take up BakulIJ
There was no reason to say no to Bhaag Bakul Bhaag. First, it’s a Colors show and I have worked with Colors before. Second, TV is being ruled by women but this one is man-oriented. So I thought it would be great. Third, the production house is great, and this is the first time I have had the opportunity to do a show like this.
How did you get into Bakul’s shoesIJ
I have been seeing Govinda movies. I keep browsing through my old shows and other comedy shows on air these days. I can’t really pin-point where I am learning from. I keep observing things around me and follow my director. I am a complete director’s actor, and I know what he wants now.
The show is based on a concept of the Sajan Chale Sasural movie and your role was played by Govinda. Do you feel you will be able to outshine his performanceIJ
I haven’t thought about all this. I just want to give my best. I don’t know if people are going to compare us. If I start that comparison in my head, I won’t be able to perform.
What challenges did you face as BakulIJ
Comedy is tough and it’s a relaxed shoot but it still drains me because of the energy I have to put in. So the challenge is to have loads of energy in every scene. My director makes sure we keep our energy levels up. In this show, my character is literally running from one wife to another. There are constant issues being created by my mother, father-in-law and others. Also, the there is the burden of making people laugh — it’s tough, but I love it.
Is the show only about a man caught between two womenIJ
Yes, but the way he finds his way out in every episode and every situation is different. They end the episode with another tragedy awaiting him. His in-laws are driving him crazy and his mother is adding to it. He can’t understand his village wife’s accent, so half the time he has no idea what she is saying. I think the wives in India are really enjoying it and they keep telling their husbands: ‘See, this is what happens when you marry two women.’
What kind of comedy is this oneIJ
It’s a situational comedy, the dialogues are funny, but mostly what people will laugh at will be the situations Bakul lands in. If I go shopping with one wife and I see my other wife nearby with my father-in-law, it’s a funny situation. I will go through hell but the audience laugh.
Was there any scene that made you uncomfortableIJ
There are many such scenes, one being where Jigna (his village wife) removes my pants. I asked my director how would I do that ‘it’s so awkward’. But he said it will be great which it was. In another scene, she drops a bucket of water on me. I do these scenes with conviction so it works.
How is your relationship with your co-actors Hiba Nawab and Shruti RawatIJ
We do reading sessions together. Hiba is the same in real life too. With Shruti, we rehearse a lot of scenes.
How progressive are we with TV shows these daysIJ
They’re not progressive, they’re aggressive. It’s good to see everyone trying their best to make the show work. The audience is unpredictable, sometimes they accept a show, sometimes they don’t. It’s a challenge for everyone to come up with something new all the time. TV is a medium that never gives up, and the same goes for its actors too.