SIR SUMEET RAGHAVAN

Sumeet Raghavan does not want to spoil his public image by showing his real self…
The straight-faced Saahil of the comedy soap Sarabai Vs Sarabai is finding it tough to shake off his image.

“I don’t want to be known as Saahil all my life. I would rather be known as Sumeet Raghavan”.

Yet he’s gone ahead with a comedy Panipuri, “Well, the two characters are very diverse. If Saahil was the agony aunt, then Vikas Pani is always falling into trouble. I won’t say it’s a novel idea but it’s the best thing that I could sink my teeth into. And I really can’t help doing a comedy because I simply love doing that.”

What about a social drama? “I simply can’t see myself doing one. As actors we have a short shelf life and I would rather maintain my exclusivity. Doing the same thing in a social drama can become very monotonous too. Also, male actors have very little to do, though some characters like Mihir in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Thi have made its own mark despite it being a women-oriented show.”

Raghavan, who has spent almost two decades in the industry (he started his career with Shrikant in 1985 and then got acclaim in the soap Faster Fenny in 1987) is not ready to compromise on quality, “I sat at home without work practicing on my harmonium for more than two years after Sarabai Vs Sarabai because there wasn’t anything worth my while. I know money is important to pay your bank loans and EMIs but I would still stick by good work.”

Would he do a reality show?

“Not a Bigg Boss for sure. I have an image like the quintessential nice boy Saahil of Sarabai… but in real life, I am quite stubborn and sometimes difficult. I wouldn’t want to spoil my image in public by showing my private self. Likewise, I would often ask Rupali Ganguly as to what made her do the show and she had no answer to it. She was always crying on the show which didn’t go well with her public image. I firmly believe that one would do a show like this only for money, publicity or due to lack of work,” he says indignantly.

He then justifies why he took part in the dance reality show, Say Shava Shava, “I won the competition. Many people including my wife asked me on camera to pursue a career in singing after that. But I am an actor and want to remain that,” he smiles.

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Pulkit Samrat & Amita Pathak  appear on The Late Night Show

Mumbai: Debutant actors Pulkit Samrat and Amita Pathak from the soon to be released comedy film Bittoo Boss will be the celebrity guests this Saturday, April 14, 2012 on The Late Night Show. Keeping up with the unconventional nature of the show, the lead pair volunteered to be a part of a gag on Indian Weddings, with anchor Sumeet Raghavan being at his humorous best.

Pulkit Samrat says, “Finally we can boast of a Television show in our country bursting with intelligent humour. I am a regular follower of The Late Night Show & think Sumeet is brilliant with his timing. It was great to be a part of this really funny show.”

“Rather than a jaded format of a sit down interview, we have put up a highly entertaining act which is in line with the concept of The Late Night Show. Performing with great talents like Sumeet and Pulkit was an amazing experience. Watch out for this one” added Amita Pathak.

“Everyone go watch Bittoo Boss if you want a paisa wasool fun time in the theatres. Kyunki Bitoo Sabki lega” quipped Pulkit and Amita when asked about the film.

The association between Bittoo Boss and The Late Night Show show seemed like a match made in heaven! The Late Night show is famous for its satirical tongue-in-cheek humour and the promos of Bittoo Boss suggest that the film will tread a similar path.

Sumeet Raghavan, host of The Late Night Show says, “It was a great experience to pull Pulkit & Amita’s leg over the censorship issue. They took it well in their stride & were quite sporty. Bittoo Boss surely will be one hell of an entertaining film with such a fresh pair” Not one to spare anyone Sumeet even cracked the whip on the “le le” dialogues from the film!

The Late Night Show is uniquely scripted and uncensored and has an irreverent take on happenings of all kinds, across the board. It relies on a satire of news including everyone and everything that makes headlines across the world for the stand-up routine and gags. The show focuses on entertaining and funny conversations for the interview segment which features a host of fake celebrities, especially political personalities, through biting commentary on the state of affairs. The show has developed its own style of ‘animation coupled with live action’ to create a new comic paradigm.

An Interview Given By SIR SUMEET RAGHAVAN....

Up to TV actors to prolong their shelf-life: Sumeet Raghavan

Popular television star Sumeet Raghavan, who shot to fame with comedy series Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai feels that small screen actors have restricted shelf life, and the onus to extend it entirely lies on them.

"TV actors have limited shelf life, and it is upto them how to present themselves. By being choosy, you can prolong your career and keep viewers' interest in you intact. I would like the audience to miss me," Sumeet told PTI.

He felt even though television was very demanding due to which creativity tends to get affected, its reach and the fame and money which come with it cannot be compared to films.

"Hence, even though money is an important factor, I decided to spend myself in a very miserly manner as an actor," he said.

"But I have always been like that since I started acting as child actor inShrikant, Faster Fene, and then graduating to Marathi and Gujarati theatre," he said.

Presently, Sumeet is just doing one show Sajan Jhoot Mat Bolo on Sab TV and Jayhind, a stand-up comedy show on the Internet.

He says comedy comes naturally to him, and no extra effort is needed. "Comedy is a serious business. Anybody who is good at it can do anything. When people say that I am bankable in a comedy show, I take it as a compliment."

In films, Sumeet was last seen in Ajay Devgn's U Me Aur Hum, and now he is gearing up for his next movie My Name is Khan, in which he has a cameo.