“BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WAS INITIALLY SELECTED TO PLAY KRISHNA IN MAHABHARAT”

Jyothi Venkatesh

GAJENDRA CHAUHAN tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this exclusive telephonic interview that he never resigned as Chairman, FTII but completed his tenure.

In what way have you grown as an actor since you made your debut with Paying Guest way back in 1983?

Growth is always there as far as an actor is concerned when you continue to do your projects with diligence after you train in your craft or else you will remain static.  Initially when you learn the craft, of course it is theoretical but eventually you convert your learning into practical with your efforts. As an actor, you learn a lot of things on the sets every day. Primarily you should learn from your director because it is his vision that you are translating in front of the camera. When you listen to your director carefully, you will realize that a lot of difference is there between what you learnt theory-wise and what you do on the sets practically.

What was your role in Paying Guest?

Each story was stretched into two episodes in Paying Guest which was produced by Rajshris. I played the role of the boy who goes to different housing societies to get accommodation as a paying guest along with a girl (played by Priyadarshini) pretending to be husband and wife. Each two episodes which were telecast weekly between 12 and 1 noon every week had an entirely different subject and there were 104 episodes in all. Madhuri Dixit had acted in one story which was telecast on Doordarshan . It was before she was discovered by Rajshris with Abodh.

How did you bag the role of Yudhishthir in Mahabharat in the first place?

I applied for audition after reading an ad in the Screen newspaper asking for actors who wanted to be part of the serial Mahabharat to be made by B.R. Films in 1985. After passing out from Roshan Taneja’s Acting Classes in 1983 in Mumbai after doing a two years course there, I was struggling to get a foothold as an actor and kept myself busy by doing small roles in small films. I auditioned for one of the roles in Mahabharat along with 1200 boys and girls. I was the only one selected for a part. Raviji who was directing Mahabharata told me to work on my accent and diction.

Had you earlier worked for B.R. Films?

Yes. I had acted in a documentary as well as an ad film for B.R. Films. I had also acted in Aaj Ki Aawaaz and TV serials Manohar Kahaniyaan and Bahadur Shah Zafar for them.

After the auditions, were you instantly zeroed in for the role of Yudhishtir?

Are you joking? It took almost eight months of grueling auditions at Filmalaya Studios where Gufi Paintal was our production designer. Initially 150 candidates were shortlisted and then finally 12 were selected. I was actually selected for the role of Lord Krishna which was eventually played by Nitesh Bharadwaj. There was a tie between me and Rishab Shukla who eventually played the role of Shantanu because he was selected for a role in Aaj Ka Arjun by K.C. Bokadia while Nitesh was offered the role of Vidhur first and Nakul and Sahadev later but he refused all the three.

I suppose a lot of actors were reshuffled for the parts in the serial?

Yes. Mukesh Khanna was slated to play the role of Dronacharya but since the telecast of Mahabharat was delayed, a lot of actors opted out. After working in Malayalam films, I had put on considerable weight as 18 months had elapsed and Raviji offered to cast me in the role of Lord Krishna’s brother Balram but I was not happy

How did you bag the role of Yudhishthir then?

Once when I went to Film City  to see Tariq Shah who was shooting for his serial           Jhoota Sach, he told me that he had already cast Sumeet Sehgal and while I was walking out, I decided to go and see Raviji who told me that he was not happy with the casting of Lalit Tiwari as Yudhisthir and offered to cast me in that role. The shooting started in two months and I did not look back at all.

Which are your five best films as an actor?

Barsaat, Andaaz, Danga 1946, (in which I am playing the role of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee), Mahapurush and Shaheed are my five best films till date.

Which are your five best serials as an actor till date?

Mahabharat, Ajnabi, Air Hostess, Dushman and Tansen are my five best TV serials till date.

Do you think films did not fetch you the position which you deserve as an actor but TV did?

I would agree with you only 50%. I acted in a number of films but I was not recognized as I sported a lot of get ups which made me unrecognizable. Also I lacked pr-ship which is required for you to propel yourself in films as a saleable actor. The worst is that I was stamped as a TV artiste in spite of my contribution to films as an actor. Also I was an actor who did not have any Godfather.

How did you feel now that Mahabharat has been revived and is shown simultaneously in four different TV channels?

I feel privileged that Mahabharat is being telecast by four different TV channels and is fetching the maximum eye balls as well as TRPs

Howwas your tryst as Chairman of the FTII? How did you feel when a section of left wing students of FTII made you resign from your post as they felt you were saffronizingthe Institute as a BJP guy?

Firstly no one can saffronise educational matters even if they want to. I did not introduce any subject based on saffron at the Institute when I was appointed the Chairman by the BJP government. And for your kind information, I never resigned as Chairman, FTII but completed my tenure.

You did a diploma course in radiography from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

My father wanted me to be a doctor but did not allow me to go to Vellore or Belgaum to join a medical college. I decided to join All India Institute of Medical sciences, where after I passed out with diploma in Radiography, I worked as a CT scan specialist. I was a paramedic who performed CT scan on Sonia Gandhi who was admitted with her original name Anthonio Manio and Sunil Dutt. I was employed for a period of three years there.

What made you take to politics though you were busy as an actor?

In 1992, I saw an episode of Lehren Video in which Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said that the actor who had played the role of Yudhishthir in Mahabharat is his favorite actor. After several years in 2004, Pramod Mahajan came to me with an invitation from him to join the primary membership of BJP party.  I joined along with Navjyot Sidhu on 17^th February 2004

 You are one of the few actors who do not figure in scandals. What is the reason?

I do not figure in any scandal because I do not believe that scandals would end up making a career for you. No actress comes to join films today just to have an affair or indulge in romance but just work. I do not endorse scandals. Period.

How did you fall in love and marry Habiba?

I met Habiba for the first time on a flight. It was not at all a love at first sight but we ended up fighting for the same seat and had a heated argument because she wanted my seat. I did not know who she was till, on the sets of my film Shiv Kumar’s Lallooram, I met her and she was introduced to me as the choreographer of the film. She manages our household very well. We understand each other because we married when we were 30 Plus and she is a beautiful person at heart.

Does your only son Dr Shamsher Chauhan not wish to follow in your footsteps as an actor?

My son is now working as an assistant professor in Sion Hospital while my daughter in law is working in Hindujas. My son is not interested in acting and has passed out in D.M (Gastro).

Who are the filmmakers in your wish list as an actor?

Karan Johar who is synonymous with grandeur and canvas and opulent sets and Aditya Chopra, are the filmmakers who are on my wish list today.

What is the message that Mahabharata is driving home during the Covid scare today?

Mahabharat drives home the message that family is a must in every one’s heart and one should stay at home like our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi says as that is the only way to be safe. Even Vidhur tells Yudhishthir in Mahabharat to stay in the bhil

Are you not planning to take up direction too in the near future?

Direction is not at all my cup of tea. I am quite happy and contented as an actor. I was one of those who did not have to struggle at all to become an actor and used to hog the limelight even at a time when there was absolutely no social media at all.

What do you feel when you look back at your journey as an actor as well as a politician?

As an actor, I feel that I am quite OK but as a politician, I am not satisfied as I want the government to give me more responsible posts. I have always given top priority to my family till date and am extremely happy with whatever I have achieved on my home front till date.