I am the underdog

Shreyas Talpade,the youngest captain,mentor and judge of Comedy Ka Mahamuqabla is doing the show to get out of the monotony of films and learning new things.

Shreyas Talpade,the youngest captain,mentor and judge of Comedy Ka Mahamuqabla is doing the show to get out of the monotony of films and learning new things.

Considering that many Bollywood actors are hosting and judging non-fiction and reality shows,did you also keep a window open to television?
Not really. In fact,I was looking at going back to theatre. To get out of the monotony of films and for learning experience,I was thinking of doing an experimental play for revision and reinvention. But this show came my way and I liked the format because it is quite similar to theatre where you meet,rehearse,revise,improvise and perform. And its great fun and nostalgic experience.

But why did you choose to do a comedy show,rather a stand-up comedy?
Why not? Comedy is not easy and doing it convincingly is even more difficult. Its a serious attempt to give sweet,nice and family-oriented entertainment. And to pull it off successfully every week needs a lot of effort. The stand-up comedy part is done by stand-up comedians whereas I and the other co-captains are performers and mentors.

You were quite busy with an outdoor shoot and didnt have enough time for rehearsals before you started shooting. Did you find it difficult in the beginning?
Not difficult but very stressful because I had to travel back and forth. But I managed it and now I am well into the competition. And honestly,I am really enjoying it too because the competition factor is creeping in now. In four episodes I have learnt quite a lot and feel refreshed. The experience will help me in films.

How is the competition from co-captains-cum-mentors?
It is very tough. Arshad,Raveena and Shekhar bhai are really good. My team is the junior most and I am the underdog?

Does age and experience make one an underdog? Or is it lack of talent?
Laughs Of course,its the talent which counts. But age and experience also count a lot. My co-captains are senior and experienced actors. But I have to deal with them and fight for my place.

Who do you fear the most?
I dont fear anyone. But every week someone surprises you. Arshad and Raveena have been good in the initial episodes. With the kind of command he has on language,Shekhar bhai is also very good.

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For breaking monotony and to learn and discover new things and formats of entertainment do you think television is the best thing that has happened to film stars.
I guess so because TV has its own charm and offers lot of new things. Overdoing anything is bad. So doing only films or TV will become monotonous. I have always tried to experiment.

During my days of theatre I was doing a hit play called All The Best. It was running to packed houses but a time came when I felt I was really not contributing anything to it. The whole experience had become monotonous. So I quit. That was also the case with me when I did

Marathi daily soaps. I felt bored and quit.

You spoke recently about lot of money in television now as compared to the days when you did TV about six or seven years ago. Do you think there is good money for everyone or it is good only for celebrities?
I think it is good for everyone. There is huge money for celebrities but good money for TV actors as well,which includes regional channel actors.

Why you didnt do Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa? Was it because the money was not good enough?
Yes,that was one of the reasons.

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Will you be doing more non-fiction TV shows?
Oh yes,I am open to different things. There were many offers in the past but didnt do any of them because sometimes the money was good but the show was bad and vice versa. If you look at the kind of films I have done,they all have been of different genres. I have worked with different directors and gone through a process to reach wherever I am today. So I am open to new opportunities.