As told to Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 18, 2019)
My first day at work in the film industry was as a junior artiste in Dev Anand saab’s Swami Dada. Now, when I think of it, two shots come to mind. For the first one, a warm Shakti ji (Kapoor), another villain in the film, and I were to run with a swarm of bees let loose on us. At the sound of action, the bee-keeper released the bees and we had to take off. I thought to myself, “Yeh acting nahin hai, yeh to real hai”, and nearly outran my boss, Shakti ji, in that scene (laughs).
For another shot, which took place the same day, Dev saab’s body double had to hold me by my neck and throw me, ulta. I couldn’t manage that. Apun street-fighter hai, aisa technique nahin aata tha. So, I told the fight-master, “Sir, yeh ho nahin pa raha hai.” The fight-master got angry and abused me. Dev saab, who was sitting there, told him, “Isko gaali mat do yaar. Take it easy. Naya ladka hai, isko sikhao kaise karne ka. If you teach him nicely, he will learn it faster.”
I was amazed, that a legend like Dev saab is scolding a senior technician for a junior artiste like me. ‘Gaali mat do, naya ladka hai, isko sikhao,’ I still remember it like it happened yesterday.
That day, I learnt that if new actors come to the set, you should treat them with respect. One shouldn’t have the attitude that I will respect only senior and well-known stars and superstars. Whatever I learnt from Dev saab I have been following it—to love everybody and take care of them. Like how Dev saab loved me when I was nothing.
