Sunil Grover is back on the small screen as Chutki. The actor-comedian tells Divya Kaushik that he has never been apprehensive in playing a woman character as his purpose is to entertain
It only took him one show to sink his teeth into the role of a scatter brained village girl. The rustic styling, the at times stupid questions and the innocent curiosity of Gutthi, in Comedy Nights With Kapil (CNK), did not only give him acclaim but probably the character became a part of Sunil Grover. So now when he is ready with his latest act as Chutki in Mad In India on Star Plus, he seems totally at ease at playing a village belle. One would find a lot of common things between Gutthi and Chutki — two plaits, salwar kameez and accent, so is it Grover’s attempt to replace GutthiIJ “It is not replacement and common elements are bound to be there since the person playing both the characters is same. While I was not a part of Comedy Nights With Kapil lot of people walked up to me and told me how much they loved me in a woman’s character. They spoke to me like I used to do on a show. So I wanted to return on the small screen as someone people remember and love. If they love watching me as a woman I would play different characters as a woman as the purpose of any show or any artist is to entertain,” said Grover, while he was here to promote his forthcoming show that will go on air from February 16.
The actor-comedian realises that comparisons with his previous shows are inevitable and that’s what is already making him slightly nervous. “It is difficult for comedy shows to be totally different from one another. But as a team we have tried our best to offer something fresh. We have actors like Dolly Ahluwalia and a good team of writers working hard to offer the most entertaining package,” shared Sunil, adding that “healthy competition is needed to help us do our best.”
Grover did a popular radio show and then moved to television. He did various voiceovers, too. “I have been mimicking since childhood and this is what I enjoy. But I never imagined myself doing just one thing, therefore I keep trying my hands at different things. Even in my previous show, I was not only playing Gutthi, I was seen as various other characters. Switching characters come easily and naturally to me. After that show (CNK) I took a break. I went to do things I never did before, skydiving and bungee jumping, and then I got a call from Star Plus. I am also doing films but right now this show is my priority,” he said.
After CNK, there have been many shows with male actors playing part of female characters. Grover says this trend is not new as he recalls veteran actors from Bollywood doing the same. “Cross dressing or playing a woman character once in a while has been a part of comedy. It is just that it has come to notice on a wider scale at present, thanks to the popularity of some shows. There are female actors on our show but the reason I decided to play Chutki is because there are not many women who would like to play a character like that. And if it is getting me love, recognition and, most importantly, is entertaining people I won’t think twice before doing that,” he said and informed that political jokes, sarcasm, slapstick comedy, celeb visits, everything will be a part of his show.
He added that most of his jokes come from people around him. “I observe a lot. And there have been a real life references to play Gutthi or Chutki but if I will name those women they might ask for royalty (laughed),” he said and added that Rajender Nath and Keshto Mukherjee are actors who have been his inspiration as an artist. “You think of them and you smile, I want to be an artist like them,” he added.
Would we ever see Grover in his real self and not as some character which seems like an extension of GutthiIJ “Gutthi gave me an identity and if there are similar characters that people demand and would love to watch I will continue doing so. Rather than coming up as Sunil Grover, I would be in some character and entertain, and that character can be anything,” he concluded.
photo Pankaj Kumar