Arrived,Finally

“I knew a person who had never untied the knot of the sole necktie he possessed. He used to wash it and iron it without untying the knot. When Ashwini Dheer,the writer-director of the show,narrated the role to me,I suggested the character wear a necktie shorter than the fourth button of his shirt. Likewise,I was the one who suggested the expression ‘Bidya rani ki kasam’,oft-used by the character,which I owe to my native city. It is in details such as these where lies the success and popularity of the show,” said the actor who on his visit to the town was greeted by innumerable persons either mimicking his famous ‘Hum se kisi ne kaha hi nahin’ line,arms folded et al,or begging him to do it for them.

“We have come a long way from having just Mumbai films and stories in the name of Hindi entertainment. More and more films and serials are now presenting stories,situations and characters which viewers in the Hindi belt can identify with,” says Srivastav,citing example of his co-actors in the show,each one of whom has a counterpart in the hinterlands across the nation. “Sadly,the lot of vernacular productions has not improved. As much Bhojpuri/Awadhi as you find in successful films,songs and serials,those running channels and making films or serials in these languages are there only to make a quick buck rather than contribute positively to the art and culture. There is a glut of channels and there are even takers for them thereby creating immense potential for advertisers too,but greed gets the better of the producers and channel heads,thus establishment of a full-fledged regional cinema/entertainment industry remains a faraway dream,” says Srivastav,who has done bit roles in films like Hum Aapke Hain…Koun! and Hera Pheri and was the voice of Ted Lawson,in the dubbed Hindi version of Small Wonder’. He will next be seen in the Aamir Khan-Katrina Kaif-starrer Talaash.