Deven Bhojani : A comedian’s journey

Brut India

"I was always offered the role of the hero’s friend.” Actor Deven Bhojani shared his struggle with being typecast as a comedian.

Transcript

00:00I don't want to do TV. I used to look at the TV with my nose up like this.

00:03Do it. Do it. Try as much as you can.

00:06I was made a typecast as a comedian.

00:09I love you, Mano's dad.

00:11Actually, after Jojita, my family was insisting that I get married.

00:33But I said, let me settle first.

00:37I want to buy a house, a car.

00:41And then I'll get a wife. So, I should have a house.

00:43So, for 2-3 years, I worked very hard.

00:47In any film, there was a role of a hero's friend.

00:51I used to do it.

00:53I used to do it per day remuneration.

00:56I just had to save money.

00:59So, I was doing it like this.

01:01And I was happy that gradually, I started getting good roles in films.

01:10I did a film with Shah Rukh Khan many years ago.

01:19I did a few films with Jojita.

01:21That was a role of Shah Rukh Khan's friend.

01:25I had heard about Shah Rukh Khan.

01:27That there is a new actor named Shah Rukh Khan.

01:29And he considers himself to be very peacemaker.

01:31He has a lot of attitude.

01:33And in interviews, he has said a lot about Dilip Kumar or Amitabh Bachchan.

01:37Then I went for the shoot on the first day.

01:39Then I was thinking whether I should go to Shah Rukh or not.

01:41But then I thought that I will say,

01:43Hi, I am Devin Bhojani.

01:45And he will say, what should I do?

01:47He will insult me.

01:49I will lose my mind.

01:51And my performance will be ruined.

01:53Let it be. I don't do self-interviews.

01:55Then I was looking at my lines.

01:57At that time, a tap came from behind.

01:59Hi Devin, I am Shah Rukh.

02:01You were so good in Jojita V Sikander.

02:03Then suddenly there was an offer of Dekh Bhai Dekh.

02:05So, Dekh Bhai Dekh TV.

02:07So, I don't want to do TV.

02:09I used to look down on TV.

02:11I am very sorry about this.

02:13Why was I thinking like this?

02:15So, I thought that the director is also good.

02:17Jaya Bachchan's banner is there.

02:19And the character is of a servant.

02:21Kareema's.

02:23But it is a very important character.

02:25So, I think I will do this one.

02:27Later, I will continue doing films.

02:29Sir, don't you think that you have been

02:31typecast somewhere?

02:33Mostly, you have been in all the comic roles.

02:35I have seen some serious roles where

02:37you have done serious work.

02:39But have you been typecast somewhere?

02:41Yes, that is there.

02:43I have been typecast as a comedian.

02:45By the audience.

02:47By the producers, directors, writers.

02:49By everyone.

02:51So, there is a kind of...

02:53I am a versatile actor.

02:55I know how to play different kinds of roles.

02:57And I am able to do it.

02:59But as a comedian,

03:01I think it might have happened because

03:03there are very few comedians.

03:05Very few.

03:07There are very few actors who can do comedy.

03:09So, I consider myself very fortunate.

03:19So, that's why Gattu

03:21touched people's hearts so much.

03:23He used to make people laugh.

03:25But when Gattu didn't get food,

03:27people used to cry.

03:29If Gattu used to get lost,

03:31if he couldn't meet his family,

03:33people wanted him to meet them.

03:35Innocence that Gattu had,

03:37that was unparalleled.

03:39Absolutely.

03:41When I was offered the role of Gattu,

03:43I was also a creative director.

03:45We were talking about the casting

03:47of Gattu's character.

03:49So, Aatish and JD, the producers,

03:51and Aatish,

03:53he created the show.

03:55So, they said,

03:57why don't you play Gattu's character?

04:00I said, Gattu? Wow!

04:02What a character!

04:04He said,

04:06you will be able to do justice.

04:08He said,

04:10let me think.

04:12After a couple of days, I said yes.

04:14How was Sarabhai's experience?

04:16It was a great show.

04:18I had a great team of actors.

04:20Our writers were amazing.

04:22They created all these characters.

04:24Aatish Kapadia.

04:26They were amazing.

04:28The way they wrote the show,

04:30it was so good that

04:32my work became very easy.

04:34Plus, the producers,

04:36the heads of production,

04:38JD and Aatish Kapadia,

04:40they gave me everything

04:42as a director.

04:44But there was a problem.

04:46I used to direct and edit at the same time.

04:48It used to take a lot of time.

04:50Right.

04:52As a Dushyant,

04:54I used to perform.

04:56There was a director inside.

04:58He used to perform in front of me.

05:00He used to say,

05:02you didn't give a good reaction.

05:04As a director,

05:06I used to scold myself.

05:08I used to say,

05:10you are Dushyant.

05:12Be Dushyant and check the shot.

05:14You can correct it later.

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