Hes a woman with cherry lips,ample bosom and perfectly round curvaceous hips. And every time Mrs Pammi Pyarelal sashays down her mohalla,people stop and ogle. That was the point. Pammi had to be a headturner who puts the diva in drag, says actor Gaurav Gera,glowing in his new role on Colors sitcom,Mrs Pammi Pyarelal. Pammi is actually Param who,to save his skin,has to pull off the drag act. Gera has previously been wickedly hilarious as Malti Manohar Mishra on Sonys Dekh India Dekh,and makes for an adorable lady-next-door in Mrs Pammi Pyarelal. Scoot over to another Colors set,where Ali Asgar,as the singing dancing daadi in salwar kameez and sneakers (a typical Punjabi fashion statement),is turning out to be quite a riot on Comedy Nights with Kapil. He is joined in his buffoonery by co-actor Sunil Grover,who comes dressed as various female characters. His Sipika,as Deepika Padukones cousin,even left Shah Rukh Khan speechless. Clearly,being a woman is turning into a mans job on Indian television. And as the numbers prove,its a sure shot TRP steroid as well. In the past too,weve had Cyrus Sahukar channel his inner Simi in Semi Girebaal. Our all-time favourite drag of course remains Aamir Khan,right from the time he showed off those shapely waxed legs in his film Baazi,to the recent Godrej ads where he is the chic Sonia. I strongly feel that men are funnier than women. Not that women cant crack jokes,but that women are classy,practise restraint and will not go back slapping or mouthing off dirty jokes in public, says Gera. Till now it was just a tool for comic filler,but with Pammi,its no longer simply a laughing matter. A central role driven by a man playacting a woman in a medium that is primarily dominated by saas,bahus and betis cannot be a joke. Its a tough job,becoming a woman for the small screen. Gera sits through two hours of make-up everyday. The process of his transformation includes choosing nail paints and lipstick shades to match the sari he is wearing. In order to avoid the pain of waxing,Gera first tried using a hair removal product,before eventually opting for a razor. Stilettos give him stabbing pain in the back,sandals cause blisters and zari saris give him a rash. Then he has to be smeared with layers of foundation paint to hide his stubble. A perfectionist,Gera researched for the perfect padding to accentuate his lean figure and even chose Pammis hairstyle. It also helps that he had his ears pierced as a young boy. Its only after this daily drill that Param becomes Pammi. As Asgar says,It takes dozens of hairpins,layers of make-up and dont forget buckets of sweat, to turn into TVs most happening granny. Known for his Basanti act,the drag,says Asgar,is easier for writers to pen. Prashant Bhatt,Fiction Head,Colors,agrees. There is a novelty,element of entertainment and an instant recall value here. Men dressing up as women has been part of Indian culture,right from nautanki days. It raises curiosity and becomes a talking point. Take films such as Mrs Doubtfire,Tootsie,or Chachi 420 each character is memorable and applauded, says Bhatt. Another argument is that once youre dressed as a woman,you can indulge in physical comedy. I cant make a real daadi sit all night for shoots or push her around like I do with Asgar, says Kapil Sharma. Comedienne Archana Puran Singh concurs that the trend started with men exploring their horizons,but it hit off and shes a fan. So are we.
