Interview: I was fond of playing Laxman in Ramleela, my mother used to dress me by wearing a bindi – Rohitashv Gaur

Rohitashv Gaur started his/her acting career from theatre. Despite working in many Bollywood films, he/she got recognition from the roles of Mukundilal in the TV show ‘Lapataganj’ and Manmohan Tiwari in ‘Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain’. Recently when Rohitashv reached Ramlila in Delhi, we had a special conversation with him/her:These days Ramlilas are being staged in Delhi. What kind of childhood memories do you have associated with Ramlila?
During my time, there was a huge craze for Ramlila. I lived in Kalka in those days. It was the size of a small town and had few means of entertainment. Even TV had not come in that period. Used to listen to songs on radio. When the days of Ramlila arrived, the hustle and bustle would start there two months in advance. At that time, there was maximum discussion about who was playing the role of Ravana. Children’s Ramlila was also popular in Kalka. Some of those children became Ram and some became Lakshman. I was very fond of playing Lakshman because at that time I was of a somewhat aggressive nature and the character of Lakshman was also like that. Our mother used to dress us up, the look was created with small bindis. There was a very big school, where this Ramlila used to take place, where we used to block our seats from 5 o’clock in the evening. The most special scene of ours, which I still remember, was the one at Ashok Vatika. Because when that scene used to come, Hanuman ji used to throw fruits among the audience and we used to catch them. This has been lost in today’s times. It is no longer magic.

– You were in Delhi recently, how was your experience here?
We enjoyed the Bengali market a lot in the capital. There I also ate Chole-Bhatura. We have old memories associated with Bengali Market. When we studied in drama school, we used to go there a lot and eat a lot of Bhature and Tikki. That taste is not available in Mumbai. I also went to the National School of Drama. There is an exhibition going on there, enjoyed that also.

– Your identity has become that of a comedy actor. In such a situation, what kind of roles are offered to you now and do you have any regrets about being recognized as a comedy actor?
There is no doubt that people see me as an actor who plays comedy characters. I am also sad about this. The sad thing is that our industry binds us in a set scale whereas I think that an actor can do comedy as well as tragedy, that is, he/she can play all types of roles. And then I am a trained actor from National School of Drama. I have learned every knowledge. There is one thing in the industry that things start moving along with whatever sells and becomes a hit. The show Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain and Laptangaj became a hit. Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain is a pure comedy show, but it is comedy only. So all the shows I am getting are on this set scale. In a way they have tagged me that you are a Good Comic Actor. So I am sad about this, these are the kind of characters I get now. However, after a long time, I have received an offer which is different from the comic role and I have done it. I have played a role in Vipul Shah’s film Hisab. They have given me a role different from the set pattern. Only a few people can muster such courage.

– Do you think that working in the same genre for years causes some other disadvantages to an artist?
Absolutely. Anything has some advantages and some disadvantages. There is no doubt about it. Like I am a freelance so I am free to do the work of my choice, but in a way, here I am constrained to do the work of my choice. Because we shoot daily, there is daily telecast also. In such a situation, you cannot do anything else because of commitment. But since this is a comedy and not a typical daily show, there is a lot of fun here. Every five episodes there is a new story, a chance to work with new people.