Jolly Good Fellow

Bored with his marriage,Parminder Singh Sethi,a restaurant owner,is having a mid-life crisis. The only way he can get back some excitement and fun in his life is by participating in an extramarital affair. He uses his mother’s home,which is free only for a few hours on Monday evenings to “get together” with women. The play,Two to tango,Three to Jive,staged at Turf Club,Pune on Saturday,chronicles Sethi’s attempt to find some excitement to spice up his otherwise mundane life. The role of the chubby and irresistibly cute protagonist is essayed by actor Saurabh Shukla,who was recently acclaimed for his role of the bureaucratic judge in the film Jolly LLB and the policeman in Barfi!. “Be it acting in front of a camera or on stage,I like to explore the sublime connotations of human lives. The daily nuances of life fascinate me. I have observed and learnt that human beings are very complex creatures. We never say what we want,we like to turn and twist things around. For instance,if one has to say I love you,they will probably drop their date home and say something like take care,which means I love you in a way,” says Shukla,who admits that he often shies away from melodrama. The climax of the play features a scene where Shukla gives an elaborate melodramatic speech to justify his acts. “I basically tell the audience what a pathetic life I have,sad,drabby and lonely. But it is not me to be so melodramatic,hence I laugh at my sorrow,because what else can you do?” he says.

Shukla’s career in theatre began over two decades ago. After two years of actively participating in theatre productions in Mumbai,he got into Bollywood,which took up most of his time. But theatre continues to be Shukla’s first love. “I have worked hard in films for a long time. Last year,I took a break for three months from shooting to get back to theatre. Since then,I have been managing my time between my performances on stage and my shoots,” says Shukla.

Though his filmography features many eminent roles played by him,the role of Kallu mama (Satya 1998) has become synonymous with his name. “I have been asked many times whether I am bothered by people still referring to me as Kallu mama after doing so much work post Satya. But I am happy that people remember that character so fondly. I did not have an identity before Satya,” he says.

Talking about the obsession with six-pack abs and chiseled bodies in Bollywood,Shukla says that he has never thrown his weight around. “I do not use my fatness as a strength. I am fat because of my lethargy and I am quite comfortable with myself. As far as acting is concerned,it has nothing to do with my weight,but only my skills,” says Shukla,who is excited about the reviews of his latest work in Phata Poster Nikla Hero,which released on Friday.

Shukla is busy with shooting for his upcoming films by Satish Kaushik and David Dhawan. “I will be testing new waters with a film with Aamir Khan in which I have a rather “meaty” role,” he signs off.