"When my senior Brij Bhushanji told me that I should speak like myself and not like Ameen Sayani Saab,though I was impressed with him, I changed my style of voicing and my listeners appreciated my work”

PRADEEP SHUKLA tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this exhaustive e-mail interview

What is your view about Corona Virus and social distancing?

This pandemic, unlike any other before it, is a major threat not just to global human health but also to the global economy. How things pan out over the next few months and the next year is yet to be seen. Our Prime Minister and the Central and State governments have taken adequate steps to try and contain the spread of this virus through social distancing. My view is that it is not just the responsibility of those in power to have all the answers. We as citizens should also be mindful of our actions and take steps to ensure that we don’t expose ourselves to this virus. The challenges facing our country are real. We are a developing nation and our medical facilities are not at all on par with western countries. Lack of education and understanding is another issue that our country has always battled with. Those of us who understand the magnitude of this threat should protect ourselves and follow this lockdown so that we don’t contract this virus. 

Tell me how you began your career?

I was a child artist with All India Radio since 1960. I used to do voicing for plays. Then I joined AIR as a Casual Announcer. I was happy about the fact that I was a drama artist as well as an announcer because both types of voicing are very different - they are exact opposite, if I may say so. Drama needs modulation and performance whereas announcement is rather flat and monotonous. Radio is a blind medium and you can connect with your listeners only through your voice. I was blessed because my career in Radio taught me a lot about voice modulation and performance.

Is that how you became an actor?

The truth is that at home I would receive a lot of thrashings at the hand of my mother - each time I was out of line - and I was an ace at lying and acting. I was always very fond of watching movies. At times I would sell my school books to buy movie tickets and stealthily watch movies with my friends. At home I would tell my mother that my books were stolen. Movies were the real reason for me to become an actor. Gradually, I started understanding how different characters are performed.

Did you learn acting?

I haven’t learnt acting formally. I do believe that each one of us has an actor within. Some of us are fortunate to receive the opportunity to express that actor externally.

What does acting mean to you?

Acting is a form of self expression for me. Whether it is voice performance or acting, it lets me experience different lives while living my own life. Whether it is being a zamindaar or a judge or a villain, as an actor, I have experienced multiple lives. Acting to me is my life with a variety of shades.

What is your approach as an actor?

Transforming yourself into a character so that it seems so original that the viewer starts believing that the actor and the character are one and the same, that the actor has no identity besides that character. If 4 different actors play the role of Julius Caesar, each actor will definitely portray the character differently. A successful actor is the one who portrays the character in a way that the viewer cannot imagine anyone else playing that role.

Have you acted in radio plays as well as the stage?

Yes. I have been fortunate to be associated with theatre and I started my on-stage career with Bihar Art Theatre. Quite a few of the stage plays were award winning plays: like Lohe Ki Deewar, Barf Ki Minar. I have also directed and performed in a lot of Radio plays like Mrityunjay, Qaidi, Katha Lok etc. 

Which are the TV serials in which you have acted?

My first ever TV Serial was ‘Trishna’ which aired on Doordarshan and was directed by  Meena Vaishnavi. It was based on Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice. After that I did various serials like: Puraskaar, Guniraam, Udaan, C.I.D, Crime Patrol, Savdhaan India, Saam Daam Dand Bhed, Adalat, Kulfi Kumar Bajewala, Madam Sir etc.

Which are the films in which you have acted?

Some of the films that I have acted in are  God & Gun directed by Essmail Shroff, Sheen  directed by Ashok Pandit, Cheeni Kam  directed R Balki, Bank Chor  and Shamshera both produced by YRF.

Which are the directors on your wish list?

I prefer to work according to the roles and am not choosey about my directors. I have worked with seasoned directors and new directors and both roles have brought their own positives to my performances. My favorite directors have been Raj Kapoor, Chetan Anand, Dev Anand, Ritwik Ghatak, Guru Dutt, K Asif etc.

Which are your favorite actors and actresses?

To name a few, like Raj Kapoor, Vijay Anand, Nutan, Madhubala, Kishor Kumar, Geeta Bali, Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Pran, Nargis, Dustin Hoffman, Charlie Chaplin, Alia Bhat, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh etc.

Is it true that voicing is also a passion for you? Is Ameen Sayani your guru?

Voicing has always been my passion and will always be my first love. I started my career in Mumbai with Ameen Sayani as a commercial broadcaster and I learned a lot from him. I was so smitten by Ameen Saab’s aura and charisma that I used to emulate him in my radio programmes. One day my senior Brij Bhushanji told me that I should speak like myself and no-one else, no matter how impressed I was with them. His words resonated with me and made me realize that I might lose my identity as a voice. From that day, I changed my style of voicing and my listeners appreciated my work.

Tell me more about Ameen saab!

Talking about Ameen Sayani, he is a gem of man. He is a soft spoken and down to earth gentleman and he never discourages anyone. Ameen Sayani is synonymous to Indian Radio it will always be recognized by his name - for generations to come. When I speak of Ameen Sayani, it would be a blunder on my part to not mention his beloved wife Mrs Rama Sayani, who was a huge support to him. I wish Ameen Sahab good health and a long life. Ameen Sayani who is a living legend today has been my guru in commercial broadcasting and when it comes to radio plays; my guru has been Pandit Vinod Sharma - the voice of Inspector Eagle- whom I addressed as ‘Dadda’ (meaning older brother). Later on in my career Dadda also voiced in a lot of radio plays that I had the good fortune to direct. 

In what way were you associated with the prestigious RAPA awards earlier? Why did the awards shut shop?

I was a member of the Radio Advertisers and Practitioners Association of India (R.A.P.A.) and was also a core committee member. R.A.P.A. was the brainchild of  Kailash Nath Goyal, Ameen Sayani, Pt. Vinod Sharma, Balwant Tandon (Lintas), Sheel Kumar (Radiowani), Manohar Mahajan, Brij Mittal, Pramod Dasgupta, Arvind Mehta etc. R.A.P.A. was active for almost two-decades but as times change, a lot of things become obsolete. R.A.P.A started losing its members after the formulation of the Voice Artists’ Association. Also, with the loss of its founding members, it became more and more difficult to keep the association alive. 

How good are you as a writer? How many scripts have you written so far?

I started writing radio programmes as a broadcaster. Then I wrote radio plays and also went on to write story, screenplay and dialogues for television. I can’t comment on how good I have been as a writer but my work has been appreciated by my audiences.

Is it true that you are media shy?

Yes, that’s true. I don’t believe in self-projection. I have always believed that my work and my performance will speak for itself.

What is your advice to those who aspire to follow in your footsteps as a writer/ actor/voicing etc?

I can only talk about the principles that I have followed in my life. Don’t stop learning. Everyday bring us something new, every interaction teaches us something unique. The day you start thinking that you know everything, you automatically limit your own growth. Whatever you do in your life, do it with complete honesty and dedication. Put in a 110% every single time. Strive to be better than your own self and don’t get into the rat-race of competing with others.

In what way do you think TV and films are different?

Both these media come with their own set of challenges and require tremendous hard work. If the content is good, the plot and the story is good, it will pave the way for success of the series or the film. While they seem similar, they are different when it comes to the craft and the technicalities associated with them. The shot-taking of each of these is different. The editing and the treatment for television are very different from those of feature films. We are now living in the digital age where every hand holds a camera and every person is a potential producer and actor. This has opened an array of avenues for content. The rise of OTT platforms has given exposure to a lot of talent. These are promising times for people in the Media Industry.

Is your voice a big asset for you?

Yes, it is. I continue to voice till date. It has been almost 60-years since I have been voicing.

Have you modeled for in ads and dabbled in jingles?

Yes, over the span of my career, I have written, directed and voiced for many ads and jingles. I have also modeled in many ads. My first modelling assignment was for Maharashtra Rajya Lottery.