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MANOJ PAHWA:

THEATRE IS THE

GYM FOR ACTORS

eteran actor Manoj Pahwa, who has On the character he plays, Manoj said, “I “Look, I am a realist. I know if I am in a city
been working in the entertainment am playing the elder brother of the family like Mumbai, I have to run my kitchen. I
Vindustry for last 26 years in which he who unnecessarily takes responsibility have a family. Either I should stop acting in
has explored three mediums - television, of everyone and everything under every comedy roles in films and wait for my life to
stage and film, said theatre is an important circumstance.” one great opportunity, or I nurture the artiste
platforms for any actor to develop skills and “It is a very typical nature of an elder brother in me on stage where I experiment a lot.”
to learn how to stay relevant with time. of every middle-class family where he “I don’t complain, I try to find a way to enjoy
Asked about his favourite medium of acting, becomes an example for all his siblings. So my craft. The theatre is there for that.”
Manoj told, “Theatre is the gym for actors. later in life, even though everyone is mature “Having said that we are in a good time now
For a performer, theatre is the medium enough to take their decision, he has to say as people are making a different kind of films.
that gives an opportunity to work on your something that makes the situation more Characterisation is changing, so actors like
skill, your imagination, physical and mental complicated at times.” us (me) are getting the opportunity to do
strength as an actor. You upgrade yourself Starting his career in TV with comedy shows experimental work,” he added.
in theatre to stay relevant.” like ‘Just Mohabbat’ and ‘Office Office’ Did he imagine he will be so successful
Citing an example, Manoj said, “We do plays Manoj has acted in films like ‘Being Cyrus’, in the business of entertainment being an
where we are performing one character ‘Singh Is Kinng’, ‘Dabangg 2’, ‘Jolly LLB’ outsider?
even after hundred shows. As an actor, we and ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’. “Well, when I was packing my bag for
have to tune ourselves with the changing He has mostly been seen in the comedy Mumbai, I was only confident about my
time to keep the performance and play genre in films. “In films, I was always offered skill as an actor that I earned from doing
relevant for the audience.” comedy roles whereas in theatre and TV, I theatre for nine years in Delhi. But the fact
“We do rehearsals and rehearsals to got a chance to experiment with more. I do is, in Mumbai city, knowing your work is not
get it right. So, theatre is where an actor not really blame the producer to typecast enough to survive... network and opportunity
grows.” The actor will soon to be seen in me because they want to play it safe for the matters.”
an ensemble cast family drama film called business of the film.” “I am thankful that I earned respect and
‘Khajoor Pe Atke’, which also features Vinay “As an actor, even I did not say no to those manage to make an impact as an actor in
Pathak, Dolly Ahluwalia, Seema Pahwa, films... So it is a two-way process,” he said. last 26 years.”
Sanah Kapoor and Suneeta Sengupta. But what kept him away from experimenting?

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