“I am writing and directing a web series called Gama for Salman Khan's SKF Productions"

PUNEET ISSAR

In this exclusive e mail interview PUNEET ISSAR tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that he feels ecstatic and right on top of the world, that his serial Mahabharat is being beamed in as many as four different national channels during the lockdown period.

In what way have you grown as an actor since you made your debut in films as an actor?

I learned that change is very important. And as an actor, one needs to change with times, especially as cinema evolves and you have to keep up with it. One has to keep on growing, by leaps and bounds.

In what way did your role as Duryodhan in Mahabharat help you scale greater heights as an actor?

The unprecedented popularity the show Mahabharat received went into my favor, as I was one of the most pivotal characters of the series. There would have been no Mahabharat without my role as Duryodhan.

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

I was called by the production house B.R TV and auditioned for the role of Duryodhan and selected for the pivotal role

How tough or easy was your transition as an actor from films to TV? Did you have to struggle too? Did you take up acting because your father Issar saab was part of film industry?

It wasn’t tough at all as an actor to do an audition for any role. I was confident and I feel that an actor is always an actor. A good actor should be able to deliver whatever be the platform, be it Films, TV, web series or Theatre. Yes I should confess that as the son of Sudesh Issar, I was fortunate enough to grow up in a film environment.

Which are your five best films as an actor?

I would not hesitate to say that the seven films of mine which will always remain my best till date are Purana Mandir, Ashaant with Akshay Kumar, J.P. Dutta’s Border, Ram Jaane with Shah Rukh Khan, Kshatriya again with J.P. Dutta,  Sanam Bewafa directed by Sawan Kumar with Salman Khan and last but not the least Zakhmi Aurat, with Zeenat Aman.

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

Why just pick up five, I would like to choose at least 7 TV serials of mine. They are Mahabharat , Junoon , Hindustani , Left Right Left, Baani Ishq Da Kalma , Jai Mata Ki, Noor Jahaan, Ghutan and last but not the least Discovery of India

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

I would say yes to a certain extent but then I feel that for an actor recognition is everything, which I got immensely through films, television, and working in films down South.  I have worked with all the superstars of the south in main pivotal characters and super duper blockbuster films. Be it Rajnikant in Tamil, Chiranjeevi in not just one or two but 3 block buster films in Telugu, like Indra, Master, Tagore, Mohanlal in the super hit Malayalam film Yoddha ,Vishnu Vardhan and Ravi Chandran in films in Kannada etc.

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

All that I can say right now is that I am I feel ecstatic and right on top of the world.

Was the unfortunate accident on the sets of Coolie a big setback for you and your career?

Yes. I should admit that it was an unexpected setback for me as an actor, but luckily for me I could bounce back as an actor with Mahaharat.

What prompted you to take up direction too?

Taking up direction after I became an actor was actually a natural growth for me, especially since my father Sudesh Issar was a director and I grew up understanding cinema so much from him.

What made you keep away from politics?

Everything has a time and I guess as of now, I am not ready for it.

What is your only son doing now? Is he also following in your footsteps as an actor?

My son is into theatre, where he is very busy grooming himself as an actor. He is doing a film as well as couple of web series and is looking forward to getting into the movies in a big way.

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

The first and foremost filmmaker who is in my wish list as an actor is none other than Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

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

There is not just one message but several in Mahabharat. Have faith in yourself and that nothing is permanent except change and this time too shall pass. So make your resolve strong and remember in your heart that tough times do not last but tough people do.

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

I’d say without any hesitation that it has indeed been a long as well as immensely satisfying journey as an actor in films and Television and now in theatre too.

Which are your current projects? Is there any film which you are directing?

I am doing a Yash Raj Films Banner film with a pivotal role with Ranveer Singh starring in it in a pivotal role. It has been titled Jayeshbhai Jordaar. I am also in the process of making a web series for Salman Khan titled  Gama for his SKF Productions. I am writing for the web series and also directing it.  I am also planning to start a film too very soon.

Tell me something about your play Mahabharat An Epic Tale as a director?

I am glad that when I plunged into directing plays, on the theatre front

Mahabharat An Epic Tale proved to be a super duper successful play. We have done more than 69 shows in a span of 15 months. It a huge record and our Play is the No 1 Hindi theatre Play running successfully in India. We are now planning to take our show overseas once this Pandemic as well as lockdown gets over. I am writing and directing another Play called Jai Shri Ram Ramayan, which is going to be another huge production, which will revolutionize and change the perception of the Hindi theatre.