“When I started reading the lines I started getting into the character and got so involved with it that I transcended from Punkaj Kalraa to Raja Dashrath”

PUNKAJ KALRAA tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this exclusive telephonic interview that he is extremely thankful to Dangal TV because in spite of being a re-run, Ramayan has gained immense popularity.

You played the role of Dasarath in the Anand Sagar directed Ramayan. What did you enjoy most about playing the role?

From the very first day, I was clear that I was interested in performance-oriented roles. When I said no to a few roles, people realized that I would only choose relevant and good ones. So far, I think I have done fairly well be it films or television serials.

I had been called for the movie Musafir starring Anil Kapoor, where I initially said no, since it was not quite appealing to me. After a month or so I got a call back for another role. I insisted on reading the script and only then took up the role. I went there, read the script and then took it up. Later I also did Shootout at Wadala, which was a bigger and meatier role. I have never wanted to do roles that needed me to be the hero. Coming back to Ramayan, I was anyway much older for the role of Ram and definitely enjoyed playing the role of King Dashrath.

Are you from a theatre group, especially since you emphasize on performance?

For me life itself is a theatre as I have learnt everything from it. I saw my seniors perform, learnt where to emphasize and where not to. I think actors are blessed by Goddess Saraswathi and create a mark of their own.

Your younger brother Pawan Kalra is a voice over artist. Since you have a rich voice, why don’t you do voice overs?

I started my career as a voice over artist and insisted that my brother too join this industry.  I have lent my voice to numerous channels, web series and television commercials in both English and Hindi.

Who is your voiceover Idol?

My godfather is Ameen Sayani. I met him a long time ago when I came to drop my sister in Pune from Gaya and then came to Mumbai. Back then I couldn’t afford to stay for very long so I stayed for a week with a few boys who suggested that I should try dubbing. When I met Ameenji for the first time, he was very happy and even suggested that I start acting. Unfortunately, I could not stay for very long and went back to Gaya. I was constantly in touch with Ameen Sir via phone calls throughout. He gave me a break with Dilwale, a radio program where I did a voiceover with him and it was my first job in Mumbai.

How did you get offers to act?

I always wanted to be an actor, but thanks to guidance from Ameen Sir, I became a voiceover artist as well. I am an actor, be it the camera or the microphone. My first role was that of a British in the movie Veer Savarkar. It was neither a very significant role nor a passable one. It was directed by Ved Rahi way back in 1995. I did quite a few films like Rock On, Luck by Chance, Musafir, Shootout at Wadala, Krrish3, Emotional Atyachar, Chal Pichchur Banate Hain and a few more.

Would you say that because your delayed entry as an actor, you missed out on opportunities to play a young hero?

I wouldn’t say it was a delayed entry. I came to Mumbai at the age of 23-24 as it takes efforts to survive and time to settle here and look at doing bigger things. When I came here, I started assisting directors and learning. I was also offered to join the production team but I knew managing finances efficiently like them was not my thing. I am not a money minded person. I would rather stick to direction and learn more things and slowly get a chance in acting. And that’s how it happened. I started getting offers for acting in television serials. I did quite a few shows and don’t regret not playing the main characters because I think it was more important for me to settle and survive in a city like Mumbai.

You assisted these directors but didn’t get a chance to direct a movie or a serial?

No, I didn’t take things so seriously. I knew I wanted to eventually get into acting. I assisted to learn everything that happens behind the camera and try and understand what people expect from an actor and also for my survival.

Which are your five best TV serials till date?

Ramayan that is airing on Dangal TV now, Vijay - Desh Ki Aankhen where I was the protagonist, followed by Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein, Devon Ke Dev Mahadev and Dard Ka Rishta in which I played the protagonist who was around 40-45 years of age. The story was about two of Sushma Seth’s two sons, who go with her to Haridwar to immerse their father’s ashes and plan to dump her there so that they can take over the entire property. I run a small shop in Haridwar and understand the situation and take her back to her family when it becomes clear that the sons were trying to get rid of her and tell her I would take care of her.

How did you approach your role as Lord Dasharatha in Ramayan

To be frank when we did the mock shoot, I wasn’t even aware that it was for Ramayan. I was told it was for a show called Raghuvansh. Finally, when I came to know it was Lord Dasharath’s role I was a bit perplexed because till then many of my roles had a negative shade. But I decided to take it as it comes on a day-to-day basis. When I started reading the lines I started getting into the character. Then I got so involved with the character that I transcended from Punkaj Kalraa to Raja Dashrath. And by the grace of almighty it just happened in a good flow. I would not like to take the credit; I’d like to give it to my parents and my upbringing.

What were the challenges you faced since there was a likelihood of being compared to the previous Ramayan?

Anandji told me to have a look at a few of the episodes of Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan for reference, but I politely refused and told him that I wanted to do it my way. I didn’t want to be influenced by any other performance. So, I just got into the character and scenes. The scenes were written so well. Many a time, I would not use glycerin and had tears rolling down naturally after reading the scene. The emotions and expressions came out naturally.

Which are your five favorite films till date?

Rock On, Luck by Chance,Musafir,Shootout at Wadala and last but not the least Kick

How would you evaluate your growth as an actor?

I feel I have grown as an actor after getting opportunities to work with some of the biggest names in the industry like Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Salman Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal to name a few. I feel I keep learning not only from my seniors but from my juniors also. By juniors I mean who are younger in age or experience, as they sometimes come up and do things which are pleasantly surprising and inspiring. I try to keep my eyes, ears and mind open so that I can learn from everybody. So, as an actor, performer and human being I am learning every day.

In what way are you today a different actor in terms of maturity and experience?

I would like to give credit to my parents since they gave me the opportunity to go to a good school. I am from a small town. I have mixed nuances of both a small-town guy and a good upbringing. This helps me perform various characters, right from being a middle-class man to portraying the character of a rich man. Luckily, I haven’t been typecast. If you see the likes of Amitabh Bachchan or Aamir Khan one of their great qualities is that they are able to perform all types of characters to perfection. I would like to be like them and perform any character to its perfection.

Which are the directors in your wish list?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar, Habib Faisal and Abhinay Deo from today’s era .In terms of yesteryear directors, I wish I had got an opportunity to work with Manmohan Desai. Even today if I get a chance to work with J.P. Dutta, I would definitely want to work with him. There is no end to my wish list

Can you please name your favorite actors and actresses?

Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh etc who are all good performers, besides Madhubala, Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and Alia Bhatt.

What do you feel about Dangal TV?

When Dangal TV channel re-telecasted Ramayan, I personally felt overwhelmed with the feedback and response I received after so many years. The channel has been performing really well. It has emerged as a strong leader in the Hindi GEC category. As of now, Ramayan is the only project of mine that has appeared on Dangal. I am looking forward to work on many more projects with the channel. The quality of content on Dangal channel is superb. I am extremely thankful to the channel because in spite of being a re-run, Ramayan has gained immense popularity.

Which are your forthcoming projects?

I have an upcoming web series on Amazon Prime Video named Gormint and I recently worked in Home streaming on Alt Balaji.  I am also working in the film Bahut Hua Sammaan produced by Sa Re Ga Ma films.

You have now been interviewed for Mayapuri and its English digital edition bollyy.com. What do you have to say about the magazine?

Mayapuri is one of my favorite magazines. It is a very happy moment for me that I am giving an interview to you for the same magazine that I have been reading since years to know about the film industry. When I was around 15 years of age, and didn’t have a lot of pocket money, with my childhood friend Narendra Saluja, I had befriended the book stall owner at Gaya station so that he would allow us to read Mayapuri magazine. Since my teen years, I am proud to confess that I have been an ardent lover of not only films but also Mayapuri and now bollyy.com.