Tickled pink

After a string of movies like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Yes Boss, Baazigar and Kareeb, Lever has finally arrived in Bollywood. 8220;Today, there are plenty of comic roles for me to do. I know of script- writers who have penned the role with me in mind,8221;says Lever. Lever points to his next film Dil Ki Dhadkan with Govinda where not only does he claim to have a substantial role, he even has a family. 8220;Like the hero who has a family, the script-writers have also planned a family for me,8221; he says. A far cry from the days when Lever was just a struggling mimicry artiste doing live shows. 8220;I have been performing on stage since I was seven years old. At that time, I would mimic all the reigning stars of Bollywood by copying their mannerisms. Of course, then my voice was that of a young child8217;s but I think I did quite a convincing job of it,8221; he remembers. And does he have to spend time studying people8217;s mannerisms and expressions? 8220;Imitating people is God8217;s gift. It cannot be learnt, you are born with it. I do not needto practice.

Of course, one has to do what the director wants one to. But I observe other people8217;s mannerisms, grasp their idiosyncrasies and try to get in a variety in expressions,8221; he says. Although he has a written script at hand, Lever is also an old hand at ad-libbing. 8220;There are times like some shots from Baazigar when I did not even know that the camera was still rolling and kept adding my own dialogues! Kabhi batti jal jaati hain,8221; he says. For Lever, each role he performs is different. 8220;My aim is to bring in as much variety as possible,8221; says he. He does confess that unlike his celluloid avatar he is a rather sober person at home. 8220;The greatest joy for me is to make the people sitting in front of me laugh,8221; he says. And when it comes to providing comic relief, that8217;s all matters.