Satish Kaushik is back after a hiatus with Gang Of Ghosts. He tells Karan Bhardwaj he wants to focus on quality work
Be it Calendar of Mr India, Pappu Pager of Deewana Mastana or Muthuswami of Saajan Chale Sasural, Satish Kaushik has immortalised several comedy characters on screen. But what made him a favourite in tinsel town for over three decades is his versatility. With time, Kaushik not only grew up as an actor but also tried his hands at direction, script writing and production. Almost after a gap of four years, he is ready with his latest directorial venture Gang of Ghosts. The film stars a motley of actors like Mahie Gill, Anupam Kher, Priyanka Chopra’s cousin Meera, Chunkey Pandey and Saurabh Shukla. “It is a remake of cult Bengali movie Bhooter Bhabishyat. Ratan Jain from Venus gave me its DVD and I enjoyed it thoroughly. There is a group of ghosts who live in a mansion. They have a rocking life until the mansion comes under scanner. It’s out and out comedy,” says the director. Though he was invisible from past few days, the actor shares that he was busy with international projects and was writing a lot. “I was writing Tansen for Rajshri Productions which didn’t take off. But it took more than a year. Then I was busy travelling to global film festivals for Bricklane and Road. I am a student of filmmaking and gained a lot during my international tours,” he tells us.
At a time when cinema is going through an interesting phase, Kaushik enjoys doing less but quality work. “I think I am done with those clichéd characters of Sardars, Haryanvi jats and others. Now I want to do well-etched out characters. I am open to do acting but they should offer me meaty roles,” he says. In coming days, Kaushik will be seen in variety of characters. “I am glad that filmmakers are pushing the envelope. There’s Nagesh Kukunoor’s lakshmi which is based on girl trafficking. After that, there is Dev Benegal’s thriller Bombay Samurai. I have written a script Dead End which is selected in Hong Kong Asia Film Funding Forum this year,” he informs.
Does failure upset himIJ “It teaches me. It should always be an experience. One cannot avoid failure. We have to react to it. Once I figure out reasons, I try to better them. I have had upsetting moments but being an actor, I have always moved on. Success and failure both should be treated with equal zeal,” he says.
The artiste says he is at par with new generation of filmmakers and is constantly evolving. “I have got much more than I ever thought. As a dreamer, I was part of films even before officially joining Bollywood. God has given me so much that I have become more ambitious over the years. I learn from young generation and try to compete with them,” he says.
Kaushik comes from Delhi and has been a movie buff. “I was a member of dramatics society of Kirorimal College. They only pushed me into acting. Professor Frank Thakurdas once called me and asked me, ‘Aur kuch mat karna, bas acting he karna life mein.’” Since then, he has never looked back!