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If you are going through pain and don’t laugh, you die; so laugh: Saurabh Shukla (IANS interview)
By Binita Das
Kolkata, Feb 25 (IANS) Versatile actor-cum-screenwriter Saurabh Shukla, best known for playing Justice Sunderlal Tripathi in the “Jolly LLB” movies, says the current political situation is funny and one just needs to laugh in times of hardships.
Shukla feels even in a politically-charged situation comedy has a role to play and he suggests that people laugh.
“Nothing is more funny than the political situation at this moment,” the actor, who immortalised Kallu mama in “Satya” and Tapasvi Maharaj in “PK”, told IANS during a visit to the city.
Explaining how comedy can help in sending political messages, the National-Award winning actor said “anything said with a tinge of humour is received well” and there is humour in everything.
Asked about the controversy surrounding Naseeruddin Shah’s comment that he feared for his children in today’s India, Shukla remarked: “Isn’t it humorous? It is highly humorous.”
In an interview in December, 2018, Shah had raised concerns about the safety of his children, making an indirect reference to the Bulandshahr violence earlier that month that left two people, including a police inspector, dead.
Shukla remains optimistically unperturbed.
He mentions Osho’s book “Take it Really Seriously: Revolutionary Insight into Jokes”, a collection of 5,000 jokes from around the world.
“In its preface, the author said the maximum number of jokes were created by the Jews as they went through so much that they needed to laugh. So, if you are going through pain and you don’t laugh you die. So laugh,” the master of comedy suggested.
Shukla’s recent stage production “Barff”, published as a book, is about three characters in Kashmir.
“Because it is about Kashmir, everyone expects that it will talk about the politics there. But it doesn’t. Subtly it is there because you are never free from the politics of the land. But it does not talk right in your face,” he said.
His mother, Jogmaya Shukla, was one of India’s first woman tabla players and his father was a vocalist.
“I was very attracted towards music. I also sing, but not professionally. Even my little knowledge of music helped me a lot in my other art. When I joined the theatre it became my strength. So I tell people, to become a complete artist you should have a sense of everything — be it music, painting or sculpture,” he said.
According to Shukla, “Screenplay, acting and everything else go hand-in-hand.”
“If I have any advice for the actors, I tell them to write,” the award-winning screenwriter said.
Shukla who started with theatre and is known for films like “Bandit Queen”, “Slumdog Millionaire’ and “Barfi”, explained that by writing he doesn’t mean writing like a professional. Actors need to imagine and writing is the best way to express it.
His upcoming films are “Family of Thakurganj”, Anees Bazmi’s “Pagalpanti” and “Shamshera”.
“Shamshera is an epic, so the character will be epical but there will be a tinge of humour in it,” he added.
(Binita Das can be reached at [email protected])
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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