I have never aimed to become a star. I am here to do good work: Ali Asgar

Veteran actor Ali Asgar, who has been active on television since the past three decades beginning with Ek Do Teen Chaar, is quite happy with his latest SAB TV show Jeannie Aur Juju. We caught up with this experienced actor on the sets and asked him as to what keeps him going.

Excerpts:

So, how is Jeannie Aur Juju doing?

(smiles) Well, it has had a record opening. Even now, it is sustaining well despite stiff competition from other shows in the 9 pm slot. It is a no mean feat that within a month, we have cultivated our own audiences in this cut-throat environment. What works for us is that magic and fantasy is different from the normal saas bahu routine. Also this genre attracts audiences across the class divide.

What do you have to say about SAB TV?

No other channel promotes this kind of shows (comedy) as SAB TV does. Do you know that Jeannie Aur Juju was bigger than Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Son of Sardaar in promotion; we were all over the place (buses and hoardings). Now that the channel has done its bit, we (actors) also need to work hard to make sure that the audience like us, or else the entire blame will fall on my head, saying Ali Asgar’s show tanked.

They will not see secondary factors, because for them, actors alone are the faces of the show. I really like my character Vicky, who is a normal decent bloke unlike characters of other comedy shows who are over the top and street-smart.

One other thing what I also like about the SAB TV content including Jeannie Aur Juju is the fact that this is one channel which you can watch with your family without the need to reach for the remote.

You have been around for many years. Which is that one single show which changed your destiny?

(pauses) It was Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii that changed the ball game for me. After this, I was taken more seriously as an actor. I have been doing comedy for many years (Dil Vil Pyar Vyar, Do Aur Do Paanch and Tere Ghar Ke Samne among others ) but then, comedy was not given due as it is today.
Eight and half years of doing this Ekta Kapoor show gave me lots of variations and scope i.e. emotional and devar bhabhi type of shows. I also experimented playing a negative avatar.

But after Kahaani wrapped up you did not take up any more serious roles?

I was not getting different kinds of roles; most of the stuff was repetitive. So I preferred to do comedy and also dabbled in non-fiction formats like Comedy Circus, Zara Nachke Dikha 1 and Shadi 3 Crore Ki (host).

How tough is comedy?

(Takes a posture) Since we all are stressed out that with just one touch on a weak point, you can make someone cry. Comedy on the other hand, is very tough; it has several thin lines. It is also just not about speaking fast and doing buffoonery. This genre is all about action and reaction which requires hard work and perfect timing.

We don’t see you all over the media?

I don’t do PR. I want to be remembered by the kind of work I do and not by the number of dogs I have. I also don’t want to be called the six packs Ali; rather I want the world to relate to me as Ali who has got six awards.

What do you feel about your industry folks?

This world is very vicious; everybody is out to pull you down. Since you can’t rise, you get jealous of someone else’s success. So I have one simple mantra of just doing my work and going back home.

Where do you see Indian TV content today?

Our content has not gone beyond different variations of Ramayan and Mahabharat, though we have grown by leaps and bounds in terms of technology. The abovementioned mythological shows still have enough meat which can fulfill the content need of our future generations as well. Having said that, you just can’t blame the TV industry for the so-called regressive shows. Certain path breaking projects have had to eat humble pie as well. Since the TV business is very expensive, you need a certain amount of decent returns to attempt variations.

Despite having done many projects, you never really made it to the ‘A’ league?

I never aim to become a star; I am here to do good work. I have survived in this industry for 28 years while several others have come and gone. I have also been repeated by all my channels and producers, so what more do I need?