Aanjjan Srivastav: In my 45 years journey, my only desire that remained unfulfilled is to get a National Award – Exclusive | Hindi Movie News
In an unique dialog with ETimes, Aanjjan spoke candidly about his 45 years journey as an actor, his private experiences over time and the way he can be celebrating his seventy fifth birthday on June 2.
Aanjjan ji, you may be turning 75 this 12 months…
Banwa dijiye, 75 ka banwa dijiye humko buddha (laughs). I’m not outdated. I’m working on the age of 75, which suggests I’m nonetheless younger (laughs).
Let’s revisit these moments once you started your journey as an actor.
It so occurred that Balraj Sahni had influenced me so much. I had met him additionally. Sanjeev Kumar was an enormous idol for me. I used to look at Guru Dutt and Hrishikesh Mukherjee‘s movies. I dreamt huge. Principally, I’ve been a theatre actor in Kolkata for 14 years. It was very clear in my thoughts that I do not need to turn out to be the standard hero. I got here to Mumbai with the identical mindset and I’ve efficiently achieved my goal. It is actually been a protracted journey, from 1978 until 2023. It has been 45 years within the movie trade and 54 years in theatre.
I began having fun with doing characters whereas studying theatre. I received my first response from Hrishikesh Mukherjee. He was the affiliate director of Kundan Shah. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s was the one place the place I used to get my meals additionally typically, as a result of I used to be unemployed at the moment. I did not have a job. I had left the banking job. I had labored for 7-9 years. I had utilized for a switch. It was not occurring. I used to be out of labor for six months. I’m not a cash man. My father has additionally been a middle-class man working within the financial institution. He did not even ship me cash. As a result of he by no means wished me to come back to Mumbai. He allowed me after my sister’s demise. He stated that if you wish to go, go and take a look at your luck for 3 months.
After 3 months, I received the association to work there. After which my wrestle began in 1978. And the one place the place I can look as much as was Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s workplace in Anupama constructing. We used to fulfill and speak however he did not inspire me sufficient to work at the moment. Nevertheless, he appreciated me for doing theatre and requested me to proceed doing it. He stated an excellent line then. He informed me that actors will not be made by getting enrolled in institutes like NSD or FTII, you want a number of years of follow, your frequent sense and your intuition to turn out to be an actor.
So I continued doing theatre till IPTA pulled my consideration. There isn’t a larger theatre group than this in India. It was an enormous cultural motion which arose in the course of the freedom motion in India in 1942. Each NSD and FTII are baby entities of IPTA. Large writers, administrators, farmers, employees, all of them have been concerned within the institution of IPTA. Folks like Hemant Kumar, Bimal Roy, Hrishikesh Dada, Nadira Babbar’s father Sajjad Zaheer, all of them have come from there.
We have been all related to the theatre. So many generations got here and went. It has been 80 years and it is nonetheless happening. There are numerous names within the inventive artwork we’re speaking about. That’s artwork. After which I joined IPTA, I met individuals like RM Singh, Naseer Saab and received the chance to work with huge administrators. What else would one want for? With IPTA, slowly I began working within the movie trade and tv. I stored working parallely whereas doing my financial institution job. It was exhausting.
At 75, I’ve to say that many huge stars, superstars, all of them supported me, and I survived. And I’m very grateful to every and everybody of them. And administrators Rajkumar Santoshi, Kundan Shah, Chak De! India director Shimit Amin and several other others did not take lengthy to recognise the expertise. They stored giving me work. That is why, at the moment, I’ve an inventory of greater than 180 movies, 34 TV exhibits, and 54 years of theatre together with a number of advertisements.
I’ve achieved so much in my journey. On high of that, RK Laxman gave me Wagle Ki Duniya, which remains to be working on tv. Whereas I used to be capturing for Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, they known as me and stated there is a serial, we’d like you. After 2013, I finished engaged on tv. However Wagle Ki Duniya has been such an enormous model that I could not say no to it. Aatish Kapadia and Jamnadas Majethia satisfied me and I loved it for the primary 3 months. Wagle Ki Duniya has grown. It is a huge household and it’ll continue to grow.
The largest factor is at the moment, I’m doing theater, movie, tv and internet sequence. What else an outdated man like me would need in life? As an actor, if I get such alternatives even at this age, I can simply say that God has been showering his blessings upon me. The one want which is but to be fulfilled, that I had at all times dreamt of, is to get a Nationwide Award. I had developed this want after watching Sanjeev Kumar, feeling {that a} character artist may win a Nationwide Award. That is the one want.
Do you are feeling drained whereas working at this age?
Sure, I do really feel drained. I’m taking a variety of medicines for blood strain and diabetes. I’ve additionally been recognized with slip disc whereas working in the course of the pandemic. I used to spray sanitizer so much and I fell down whereas strolling due to that. Then once more, I fell down close to the toilet. After that, I came upon within the third 12 months that I’ve a slip disc. I’ve discovered a health care provider named Santosh Pandey who has been treating me with accupuncture remedy. It has been very efficient thus far.
In outdated age, individuals normally endure from dementia. However I’ve by no means been within the behavior of remembering issues. I used to know how issues are as a substitute of memorising whereas finding out in class. I’m able to speak to you want this as a result of I’ve every thing in my thoughts. I do not plan or assume earlier than saying. It is a very pure response.
You stated the trade individuals helped you numerous…
One celebrity modified my life endlessly. My work was deposit mobilisation. Each 6 months, he used to assist me full my goal within the financial institution. He used to deposit the required quantity and my supervisor was very happy. Then my supervisor additionally supported me and stated that I can go for shoots throughout my working hours and you do not have to come back to the financial institution. Generally individuals used to make enjoyable of me on the units as a result of I used to ask them shamelessly to open a checking account. However that was my job and I wasn’t ashamed to do it.
The largest factor is that I had taken voluntary retirement in 1989. The whole employees from the top workplace of Kolkata got here to Mumbai to bid farewell to me. Once more, all artists contributed there too, proper from Danny Denzongpa, Shatrughan Sinha to Amrish Puri. In addition they turned up at my daughter and son’s wedding ceremony.
After I invited Danny for my birthday celebration, he informed me, ‘We by no means go to any occasion however Aanjjan I’ll go for you and I’ll keep in a single day.’ That is what I’ve earned. I’ve 6-7 movies with Rajkumar Santoshi. I requested him, ‘Who will minimize my cake?’ and he replied, ‘I’ll.’ I’m sending invites to every and everybody of them. A number of journalists have additionally showered their love and affection. Perhaps that has additionally helped me so much. I’m extremely indebted to all of them.
Additionally it is due to your expertise…
An artist like RK Laxman selected me. There are quite a few proficient artists in each small a part of this nation. The place did he discover me? The Almighty is there for positive. I’m not speaking about superstition however religion. There’s a small distinction. The universe is inside you. You’ve been given the ability. That energy comes out and helps you. You need to have full religion in your work and do it with honesty, you’re going to get your outcome. It may be late. I began performing on the age of 20. I got here to Mumbai from Kolkata on the age of 31. I labored exhausting for 10 years. God gave me a job in a financial institution as a result of I’m an engineer. I had a unique occupation. How did I come to this line? Who determined this? We determined it? No, no, no. The ability inside you determined it.
Individuals who you may have labored with, like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, have turn out to be huge superstars. Inform me how they’ve handled you…
I met Shah Rukh Khan after a really very long time once we got here collectively in Chak De! India. Earlier than that we’ve got labored in movies like Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Chamatkar. After I got here on the units, Shah Rukh stood up for me and left every thing he was doing at the moment. He greeted me, requested me about my well-being. It exhibits you what sort of respect somebody has for you.
Equally, Salman can be a gem of an individual. Throughout the premiere of Yuvvraaj, he stood up and greeted me with a smile. When he received up, all people adopted go well with. Folks like Subhah Ghai, Dharmendra, I had met them after a protracted very long time. In addition they handled me with respect. I had an excellent relationship with everybody be it Aamir Khan, Vinod Khanna, Manisha Koirala. Even the brand new era actors typically come and contact my ft out of respect.
They are saying that the larger the celebrity, the late they arrive on units. How true was that?
Even when they got here late, they was once utterly prepared for the scene. For instance, Sanjeev Kumar. They used to shock everybody on the units. Folks used to say that Shatrughan Sinha used to come back late. However earlier than 2 pm, he used to deal with his well being. So he used to get his shift after 2 pm. I’ve seen Amjad bhai capturing for his movies. He used to ship 2-page dialogues with none trouble. In these days, it was not a traditional factor. It was their speciality those that used to come back late. They used to make a variety of scoops in magazines and other people would take pleasure in studying them. Nevertheless it has stopped now.
You’ve seen the evolution of the Indian movie trade. What sort of distinction do you are feeling at the moment?
Star oriented factor is over now. Topic is the hero at the moment. Proper now, even in the event you’re not an actor, they’re being solid. They simply comply with the script, put every thing of their characters and current it on the display with out making any impression on the viewers. Simply being fairly and good trying isn’t sufficient. Nobody goes to say that he was very good-looking and he or she regarded very stunning within the film. Occasions have modified. Viewers has modified. Now, additionally, you will have to alter. You’ll have to present the true tales of our nation which can be well-rooted.
In India, there are such a lot of tales. There’s a variety of literature even whether it is in several languages. There’s a variety of masala in our environment. And folks usually complain that they do not have tales to inform. At this time’s life-style has affected it truly. Parivaar hello nahi banega to kahani kaha se banegi. Individuals are focusing extra within the West moderately than within the east. For instance, Rani Mukerji’s Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway, that story is so stunning. I appreciated it. It’s a masterpiece. Make it like this. Everyone ought to see. Extra such tales of India must be informed.
Which period was greatest for artists?
Each particular person says that our time was good. However the world is altering. Growth is going on. What is sweet and what’s dangerous is what it’s important to determine. You shouldn’t break what was good earlier and it is best to decide up what’s new and good at the moment. It’s okay when you have superior instruments and machines at your disposal however it is best to have a want to make use of it and churn out one thing that you simply need to obtain. Some administrators are good. After I labored with Tigmanshu Dhulia, he modified the script on the spot as per the brand new necessities. And it got here out nicely. Within the earlier occasions, good issues have been made. Even at the moment, good issues are made. However it’s a matter of your ardour and the way successfully you are doing it. You’ll be able to’t make Mom India at the moment as a result of you do not have the eagerness. Should you outright reject outdated issues, then you possibly can’t make new issues good. Should you combine the outdated fashion with the fashionable fashion, I do not perceive why at the moment’s youngsters won’t prefer it.
What if China Gate is being made at the moment?
If somebody involves me with an thought, I’d be completely happy to do it once more. At the moment, Rajkumar Santoshi had labored on 10 completely different characters. All of them made an impression. They’d their very own backstories and emotional reference to the viewers. It takes a variety of effort to try this. Our administrators weren’t our personal however they appreciated my work. Kundan Shah had as soon as informed me that he can do any characterisation with me, be it constructive or damaging. So, it depends upon the director who actually needs to make it.
Earlier than we log off, inform me about your birthday plans.
Really, I used to be not able to have fun it on such an enormous scale. My son stated, ‘Daddy, it’s your seventy fifth birthday. Let me do it my means. You’ll be able to have fun it later in your personal means.’ They are going to be screening my films. Rajshri Productions have made a two-day digital movie. They’ve additionally accomplished a number of interviews of mine. Perhaps they are going to shorten it and put it on show. I’ve invited everybody who I’ve labored with. The checklist is fairly lengthy. I hope everybody will be part of me on the celebration (smiles).
