Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 14, 2020)

Even as he is concerned about the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the world at large, actor-host Maniesh Paul is grateful that the lockdown has allowed him to spend quality time with his children and wife. These days, he is taking piano lessons from his nine-year-old daughter, Saisha, and reading books to his three-year-old son, Yuvann. He tells BT, “There is so much to do. I am reading books, watching movies and seeing my kids grow, which I don’t get to do otherwise. I’m also spending time with my wife, Sanyukta. The highlight of the day is learning piano from my daughter. I am taking online classes for it, too, but Saisha loves teaching me. The joy on her face when she does so is priceless. So, yes, I am trying to focus on the positive side of the lockdown.”

The Pauls indulge in a Ludo ‘championship’ every day as well. “Ladaai-jhagde wala contest hota hai; we are all competitive,” he laughs, adding that he’s also learning to cook. Ask him what his greatest learning from the lockdown has been and he replies, “I think we all needed to slow down because we were running aimlessly. This phase has taught me to consciously make more time for my loved ones. I know for a fact that I will now make time to play Ludo with my family, cook for them, play the piano with my daughter and read to my son.”

On the work front, Maniesh, like his colleagues, is battling uncertainty. He says, “I am a workaholic and I love to travel. But today, when I look at my passport, it does not feel like anything more than a mere diary. Everything is uncertain. I had so many international shows lined up, which have all been postponed. The impact of the pandemic is stronger on people who are less privileged than I am, so I thank God for what I have.”

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 3, 2019)

For Maniesh Paul, his birthday becomes special when he can do something for the people around him. A couple of years ago, TV’s popular host brought in his birthday at an old-age home in Gurgaon by spending time with them and gifting them necessary items. One year, he was at a Gurudwara where he served as a volunteer serving langar that day. This time, since the Sultan of Stage, as he is called by his fans, would be in Singapore on a holiday with his family, he decided to celebrate his big day in advance. As he has a huge following among kids, thanks to his show Science of Stupid, Maniesh decided to celebrate it with children.

On July 31, the actor took around 40 underprivileged children from an NGO to an entertainment hub where he played with them and treated them with goodies. “I feel good spending time with as many people as I can, and I always want to do something special on my birthday. This year, the idea came from the NGO, who got in touch with me and I was more than willing. Kids really like me, touch wood. My show Science Of Stupid was quite a hit with them,” says Maniesh, who played cricket and video games with the children.

And for once, the host found himself on the other side of the spectrum with the kids questioning him non-stop. “They were really chatty and wanted to know all kinds of things about me,” laughs Maniesh, adding, “They asked me how I was as a kid, did I play pranks, how was I as a student, etc. One kid wanted to know about my journey from Delhi to Mumbai! I told him, 'Look at your size and look at your question’. I was impressed that they knew so much about me. I even questioned the teachers if they had prepared them, but I was told, the children were excited to ask. I had a wonderful time with them,” he says.

When asked about his holiday plans, Maniesh said his wife Sanyukta was keen that he take a couple of days off. “It is a short holiday and I know my wife has planned surprises for me. Even my daughter, Saisha, has been giving me a small gift daily since the past 15 days. She plays treasure hunt and after I solve a clue, I get a gift. I do that for my wife every year and she has taken it from there. My cousin from Singapore told me she called him and has planned something there, too, and I look forward to it,” smiles the actor, signing off.