Excerpts from an Interview with Rajpal Yadav on his forthcoming film Main Meri Patni Aur Woh...

How similar are Rajpal Yadav and Mithilesh Shukla?

Well, undoubtedly, there are some similarities between the two. My wife too is taller than me, very beautiful and well-educated. But while these qualities arouse negativity in Mithilesh, I’ve handled them with confidence. As a result my communication channel with my wife is clear and our chemistry is excellent. Our relationship has evolved and I’m glad for that because had I reacted differently, badly, Rajpal Yadav might well have become a Mithilesh Shukla. Then life wouldn’t have been so beautiful.

But the story idea of Main Meri Patni Aur Woh came from you?

When Chandan (Arora) and I were going for the promotion of Main Madhuri Dixit Bannna Chahti Hoon we were tossing story ideas and I brought up the subject of inferiority complexes that’s a universal ailment. A thin man is complexed about his body and so too is one who’s slightly overweight. Someone rues over the fact that her nose is too prominent while someone else sighs that it is virtually non-existent. Complexes can stem from just about anything-height, physique, appearance, complexion, IQ-and unless it is translated into positive energy, it slowly eats into a relationship and can erode it completely. That’s what happens with Mithilesh and Veena. He starts out a susheel, sajjan, disciplined man who’s dedicated to his job and who dotes on his beautiful wife. But there are moments that change you completely...Your thoughts, ideology, sense of self-worth and even your take on personal relationships. And life takes a different turn.

MMDBCH won you a lot of accolades and a nomination to the Screen Awards in the Best Actor category. Are you expecting MMPAW to give as big a boost to your career?

What happened with MMDBCH was for real. What hasn’t happened with MMPAW is still a dream. As October 7 draws near, I’m getting jittery wondering how many marks I’ll get for this exam. However one thing’s for sure, of all the roles I’ve done, at the institute, in theatre or in films, MMPAW has been the most satisfying.

How did it feel to be playing a hero again?

I started my career with a one-scene appearance followed by Jungle that won me the Screen Award for Best Villain. Company was a more positive character, Hungama, Hulchul, Mujhse Shaadi Karoge and more recently, Waqt were comic roles and MMDBCH was the main lead. The industry has moulded me in many different ways, trusted me with a variety of roles and that is a big compliment to me as an actor. What’s also heartening is that no matter how I’ve been portrayed, the audience has accepted me. That’s what’s given me the courage and confidence to attempt a MMPAW. I’ve played the character with the honesty and dedication that I give to all my characters and without feeling that this one is special because he’s the hero. For me more than the nayak Mithilesh is the mukhya bhoomika. And it doesn’t mean that after MMPAW I’ll only give the nod to main leads. All I want is a character I can love because if I love him others will too.
 
So the buzz that your ambitions are soaring after MMPAW is baseless?

I’m only a medium. The power to decide what I can do rests with others. I do what I’m given and I believe that it’s all those roles I’ve done in the past-big and small-that gave a not-easy-to-satisfy director like Chandan the confidence to give me a challenging role like MMPAW. It still feels like a dream. Imagine getting this kind of a three-dimensional role!

Was your equation any different from Chandan during MMPAW?

There are some people with whom you bond instantly. My co-star in MMPAW, Rituparna Sengupta is a very beautiful woman and big star in Bengal but when we met for the first time it felt as if we had been working together for the last 10 years. It was the same with Chandan. We share a great chemistry and comfort level. MMDBCH marked a turning point in my career and I will always respect Chandan for giving me such an opportunity. He’s not only a sensitive director but also a fine editor. MMPAW is a bigger responsibility and has enhanced the trust we share. After MMPAW I’m ready for more difficult roles. The initial fear is gone and now I’m brimming with confidence.

What were you frightened of?

That I was taking too big a risk by straying from the mould too much, too soon. Hungama and MMDBCH released almost simultaneously. In the climax of Hungama I was jumping on chairs and making people roll in the aisles with helpless laughter. Towards the end of MMDBCH I’m crying, and I was terrified that people would laugh even when I had tears in my eyes. I resolved that if that happened I would never again accept such a different role. But to my relief people empathised with Raja completely. They cried with him and laughed with Hungama. And that’s given me the strength to take on a MMPAW that will make people laugh and cry too. There’s nothing forced or pretentious about the film. It’s beautiful like life itself that has inspired it!

The idea of a man wooing a taller woman is new to Hindi cinema and alien to our culture. Will it find acceptance with the common man?

In the last couple of years Hindi cinema has made good progress. Hrithik (Roshan) played a "complete"character in Koi...Mil Gaya and Salman (Khan) one in Tere Naam. Both films were big hits. Of late, the distinction between big and small films, art and commercial cinema, has blurred. Today, there is only good and bad cinema. Page 3 has proved that an interesting subject has takers today and that makes us optimistic for MMPAW. Loud or subtle, if a film is able to take its message to the audience, simply and easily, it will work. Period.

The Rajpal we see in MMPAW is more gol-matol than usual.

(Chuckling) That was the need of the character. Mithilesh Shukla’s physique had to be different from Rajpal’s. I had to put on 10-12 kgs for the role. If you notice, in Waqt itself, my cheeks are a little puffed up but when I pointed this out to Chandan he insisted that it wasn’t enough. I needed to put on more weight to make the character believable. Mithilesh is a librarian in the Lucknow University and had to look it. By the time we went on location my body had swelled into shape. I had even developed a nice little ponch (Laughs).

Talking about Waqt, it was one of your best comic performances. Which was your favourite scene in the film?

It’s the scene where Amitbah Bachchan, who’s like a father to me, is going away. "When are you coming back?" I ask him. That line brought real tears to my eyes.

Paheli, another of your films, is going to the Oscars. How does it feel?

I’m delighted to be a part of the film. It’s a great honour to represent the country at the Oscars. It was only a two-scene appearance but a difficult role. Fortunately, it developed the way it was narrated to me and I have to thank Amolji (Palekar) and Shah Rukh sahab for helping me out.

You were on the Laughter Show recently as a special guest. What was the experience like?

I enjoyed being on the show. I’d seen a couple of episodes and loved what I saw. Pankajji who’s written the dialogue for MMPAW, is associated with the show and he requested me to put in an appearance to boost the morale of the contestants. I went to the show straight from a shoot, wished them all the best, went on stage for a minute to share my experiences and was out in a shot.

Can we hope to see you on a show like this in the future as a contestant?

I’ve been schooled in abhinay. I live characters. Their needs, wants and conflicts keep me preoccupied. I can play roles but I don’t think I can stand on stage for five minutes and hold the audience with my jokes. I respect stand-up comedians but I’m not one myself.

You’re becoming very popular with brands after your Pepsi ad with Aishwarya Rai.

(Smiling) Yeah, being cast opposite a top-ranking star and having a former Miss World dancing to my song really gave a fillip to my career as a model. All the ads I’ve got since are because of that one assignment.

What did Aishwarya say to you off-camera?

She complimented me saying only I could have played this character. I was just perfect!

One last question. What makes a good marriage?

A marriage is a unique relationship because two people who have grown up in different worlds for the first 20 odd years in their lives, come close to spend the rest of their lives together. It calls for some adjustments and adapatations but if the chemistry and communcation is good you’re in heaven. Otherwise life is hell!