Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 11, 2020)

In the wake of Coronavirus-induced lockdown, re-runs of yesteryear shows are keeping TV channels from going off air as fresh content has dried up. This has not only brought up a wave of nostalgia for the viewers but also the actors. Here, some of them rewind to their most memorable episodes:


Shivaji Satam, CID: ‘The Case of the Deadly Virus’ was quite similar to the current outbreak
One of the most memorable CID episodes for me was ‘The Case of the Deadly Virus’, which aired in 1998. It was quite similar to the current outbreak, in which, faced with an unknown virus threat, we needed masks and bodysuits to handle it. Of course, back then, all we could show was a vial of the fast-spreading contagion, but the premise was the same. Then, my team of detectives and I, helped save the day.

Another episode from our 20-year run that stands out in memory is ‘The Inheritance’, which made it to the Guinness Book of World Records and the Limca Book of World Records. It was a one-take, 111-minute episode. We began at the golden hour with 22 actors at an under-construction hotel in Lonavala. Car chases, bomb blasts, everything was executed in one go with military precision before we lost natural light. The reason we pulled off this feat was because we were like one big family with our director, B P Singh, leading it.


Renuka Shahane, Circus: Shah Rukh and Kundan convinced me to not let my fear come in the way
For a person who fears heights, doing a show about a circus was terrifying. I almost quit. Shah Rukh (Khan, co-star) and Kundan (Shah, director) convinced me to not let my fears get in the way of my career. It was a lovely shoot, all of us were friends bouncing ideas off each other, especially during emotional scenes.

For me, the most memorable shot was the one which had made me petrified in the first place. It was a night shoot. I had to climb up a ladder and try some trapeze moves before losing footing and falling into the net, which was about four feet above the ground. I started crying when I reached the second rung but Kundan wouldn’t relent, encouraging me and asking me to show more intensity. That day I realised that you can’t internalise grief for the camera, you have to show it.


Shekhar Suman, Dekh Bhai Dekh: At 2 am I got a call from Anand, saying, ‘Shekhar, what have you done!’
I still remember the scene where Sameer Diwan finds out there’s a drop in the share market and slips down the stairs. This happened in the first episode itself. I was wearing shoes with rubber soles and the staircase was carpeted—it was almost impossible to slip. I did my best and went home. At 2 am, I got a call from Anand Mahendroo (director), exclaiming, “Shekhar, what have you done!” He asked me to report to his office immediately. Fearing the worst, I dressed quickly and dashed there. Anand was all excited, wanting to show me the shot which he thought was flawless and looked completely natural. It became my introductory scene in the title song. The shoot in London was also very memorable.


Kanwaljit Singh, Buniyaad: The scene where Satbir learns that he is an illegitimate child was emotionally harrowing
We were working on another show directed by Ramesh Sippy, when I first heard talks about Buniyaad. At that time, buzz was, Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar would feature in this mega TV show that was set in the 1916-1978 period. Ramesh ji came to me with the role of Roshanlal, Master Haveliram’s younger son, which was eventually played by Mazhar Khan. I told him I was keener on playing the illegitimate son of his sister, Veeravali, and her lover, Lala Vrishbhaan. He had his reservations, he didn’t think I looked right for the role. I put myself on a strict diet and within 20 days I returned to his office looking much leaner and younger. He was convinced.

But it was a demanding role. The scene where Satbir learns that he is an illegitimate child was really intense and emotionally harrowing.


Sanjay Mishra, Office Office: Rekha ma’am turned to me and said, ‘I like you in the show, you’re too good’
Playing the paan-chomping peon, Shukla, in Office Office felt repulsive in the beginning. There were times when I had to spit out the betel juice at the exact moment that Pankaj Kapur’s Mussadilal Tripathi passed by. It was important to get the timing right and that called for a lot of practise. Soon, everyone started associating me with the character so much so, that the secretary of my building called to complain of paan stains on the compound wall. I got really offended that he should think I was responsible, pointing out that I came from a good, educated family. I don’t think he was convinced.

My most memorable moment on the set was when Rekha ma’am dropped by. We were shooting in Kamalistan Studio and she had to climb up the stairs to reach us. I was sitting quietly, watching her interact with everyone else when suddenly she turned to me and said, “I like you in the show, you’re too good!” For the rest of the day, my colleagues kept teasing me, saying that now that I had Rekha ma’am’s approval, there was no stopping me.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 17, 2020)

Filmmaker Ramesh Sippy is glad that his show Buniyaad is re-airing on Doordarshan during the lockdown.

“Buniyaad, Mahabharat and Ramayan being aired on DD is good. There are many who can relate to them and will watch them again. The new gen will have a chance to watch Buniyaad and understand how things were during partition. They will have their viewpoint about the show and might also enjoy the content,” says the Sholay (1975) director.

Sippy admits that his motivation to make Buniyaad was to tell a story of an important part of history. “It was important to show the traumatic event of partition and what people went through. We did it through the life of a family and they became the heart of the show,” he shares, revealing he would be “okay if a remake was made”.

Talking about the Coronavirus pandemic, he adds, “It’s a tragic thing to happen but looking at the bright side, this is a once-in-a-life-time occurence. Staying at home means you start finding new ways to stay occupied. I hope a whole new world is born after this is over. I hope we realise the value of things we took for granted. Like Mr Amitabh Bachchan made a film starring so many other actors, all while staying at home! Who would have thought it possible or turn out so well?”

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 6, 2014)

Sanskari Alok Nath who has become an unwitting social media phenomenon, debunks his popular image, saying that he had his share of crazy parties and drunken escapades. Hard to believe? Read on!
 
When did you learn that you were an overnight sensation on Twitter? My kids told me about it, and then some friends started calling wondering if I was unwell. I checked some of the jokes myself and found them to be hilarious though I wondered about those who had so much time to invest on me. (Laughs) I’ve taken them with a pinch of salt and maybe a shot of vodka!
 
You drink vodka? According to one of the jokes you are so sanskari that you went to Vaishnodevi for your bachelor party… (Guffaws) I didn’t have a bachelor party, but even if I did, I wouldn’t go to Vaishnodevi! I’ve been to all the Dhaams, Tirupati, Shirdi, most of the temples in the Northern belt, but I go there for religious reasons. Pilgrimages are not my idea of fun!
 
So what is Alok Nath’s idea of fun? I’m a chilled out dude. When I was younger I did some pretty wild things with the limited options I had. I had some crazy friends, girlfriends too. We had our share of parties and drunken escapades as well.

Once when in college I ran out of money and had to sleep at a bus stop. It was fun as all of us on Delhi’s Hindu College campus, were happy children of the Beatles’ generation.

Now, I spend my evenings with the children, watch movies, go for holidays and have a few drinks on the side.
 
Do you feel trapped in the Babuji image? Does anyone call you Babuji? After playing a patriarch in Ramesh Sippy’s tele saga Buniyaad, I got slotted as the good father. A couple of times I experimented with negative roles but they didn’t work for me and I went back to playing the good old Babuji. No, I don’t feel trapped. Babuji has helped me pay my bills! (Laughs) And no, I’m only called babuji in films and serials. At home, I’m the cool daddy, the doting papa!
 
So what would you like to say to the Twitterati who have trolled you online? Mera aashirwaad unke saath hai! But please spare me now. I guess now they have found Arvind Kejriwal, haven’t they?