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Journalism of Courage
Veteran actor Ashok Saraf says that comic roles laced with a tinge of sorrow raise his bar as an actor
The world knows him as the agitated father of five daughters in the serial Hum Paanch. For the Marathi audience, Ashok Saraf is not just an actor, but also a figure that they relate Marathi cinema to. Having been in the Marathi film industry and grown with it, veteran actor Ashok Saraf8217;s place in the history of Marathi cinema is irreplaceable; so much so that Marathi cinema is synonymous with Ashok Saraf for many. But the true identity of the legendary actor and the real human being that lies beneath the surface extends much beyond the on screen characters that he has been portraying.
Presented by Zee Talkies, the film on a comedy platter is also a representative of the transition of comedy in Marathi films and Ashok Saraf makes it a point to notice the change. 8220;I believe that the definition of comedy in Marathi cinema has changed over the years. While the initial definition of comedy was limited to dialogues, comedy today is fast and situational,8221; says the man who has undoubtedly been the true ambassador of Marathi cinema, especially comedy.
Having presented over 250 characters through countless films, television serials, theatre and so on, Saraf feels that comedy is the genre that he has chosen to belong to. 8220;Though difficult as a technique, I find it easy to make people laugh. My idea of an emotional act is making people cry just as they are laughing, which means that I love to do comedy that has a silver lining of sorrow associated with it, and that I find interesting as well as challenging,8221; smiles he.
Saturation point, believes Saraf, is an important aspect of every actor8217;s life. 8220;Stagnation is important because, it is when you think beyond the monotony of life that greater discoveries are made. Today, when I sit and look back at my characters, I feel that I could have done the same roles in a different manner. That does not mean that my acting was at fault, it just means that I have the capability to present one character in countless shades of emotions. It is this confidence that enables me to improve as an actor and eliminate my own reflection in the character that I am doing, which is very important for an artiste,8221; says he,
Though his roles in Marathi films such as Pandu Havaldar, Kalat Nakalat, Ek Unad Divas and so on that have set a benchmark for many, Saraf still prefers to call himself an unsatisfied and progressive actor. 8220;Ask me if I have a particular character that I am in love with I and I would say there are many. But even today, there are so many characters that I still want to portray. I am thankful to all those who8217;ve given me the current status, but at the same time I am thankful to the almighty, who has given me the ability to think and improve as an actor and most importantly, as a person,8221; concludes he.
