There should be a support group, like Alcoholics Anonymous,” quipped Kunaal Roy Kapur, as it got revealed in course of a conversation with Mona Singh and t2 that both the actors were logging over four hours of screentime daily. Screen addiction merges reel and real, as their current project, Thode Door Thode Paas, is centred around the issue. The Zee5 show stars veteran actor Pankaj Kapur as the neglected grandfather, who hangs the carrot of a lumpsum inheritance if his family stays off gadgets for six months.
All of you are from the Mehta family in the show. Tell us more about Thode Door Thode Paas...
Mona: Yes. Kunal’s dad, my father-in-law — Dadaji of the house — comes on a visit and sees the chaos in the family. Nobody is talking to the others. Nobody has time for Dadaji. He makes us sit down and offers this bribe — “I’ll give you one crore rupees each if you’re willing to let go of all the gadgets in the house”. So the house gets a vintage makeover. There is drama and lots of chaos when the Mehtas accept the challenge.
Does that mean they’re off mobile phones?
Mona: Not just social media and mobiles, off with all the other gadgets, like mixer grinder, vacuum cleaner… even the TV goes out, as do the video games. So it’s more like an electronic detox. The old telephone and radio come back. And there are no other gadgets to connect with people — no laptops, no iPhone, no iPads, nothing.
When the show came to you, was it your own average screentime that made you connect with the premise?
Kunaal: I have kids and parents at home. Everyone is glued to their phones for different things. If there is a disconnect between generations, it is also because of the different influences that each is under. There is no common ground any more as everyone is in one’s own bubble. This show tries to dissolve those boundaries and say that when we are sitting together, we need to reconnect and not be absorbed by the other world. That world is also necessary but sometimes it needs to be kept at arm’s length.
Mona, are you more sorted about your phone usage?
Mona: That’s right. I am not addicted to my phone. It’s only for work and a bit of leisure — scrolling through social media. I am very happy to put my phone away if I am not working and if I am in an area without connectivity, I will not cry for network.
The show is so relevant today. We see what phones and gadgets are doing to our family but no one is acting on it. The show will compel people to pause, reflect and reset priorities.
How was the experience of working with a veteran actor like Pankaj Kapur?
Mona: It was a dream come true. He has great comic timing with that poker face. And what an amazing human being! All of us were on edge that we better not fumble in any of our scenes with him. He came up with so many creative ideas to improve a scene.
Did you watch any of his shows growing up?
Mona: We watched Karamchand of course — Kitty (Karamchand’s assistant played by Sushmita Chatterjee) with gaajar (carrot munching was the sleuth’s trait) — and Office Office.
Kunaal: I was more into Office Office. He told us stories about how they shot the show — rehearse for half the day and shoot in the other half. Such talented actors, all of them, with incredible comic timings…. During the shoot, he was constantly asking questions looking for his character’s motivation — why am I coming here, why am I lifting this…. Those are what make a scene real.
Talking of comic actors, we just lost Satish Shah. Kunaal, you have worked with him, right?
Kunaal: Yes, it was my first film Panga Naa Lo (2007). Om Puri ji was also in it, two legends from Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, which also had Pankaj Kapur. Satish Shah was so supportive. He was playing my father. He took the 24-year-old under his wing. Watching him and Om Puri ji going back and forth with their dialogues, like playing tennis, was really valuable for me.
Mona, when someone brings up Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, your debut show, is your first reaction a yawn or a smile?
Mona: Always a big smile. That show gave me everything and I can never tell anyone not to call me Jassi. I love it. It’s been 22 years since it released in 2003. I feel lucky and blessed that people still remember me for that iconic role.
Is OTT as a platform getting saturated with fast-paced genres without space for such laid-back humour as Jassi or Thode Door…?
Kunaal: You know, comedy is actually the toughest genre to crack. I think that’s why most people don’t attempt it. It also takes time for the comic characters to click with an audience. If you see sitcoms, they sometimes pick up in their second or third season, and then they go on to have eight or 10 seasons. Look at successful sitcoms abroad, or even in India. It’s the toughest thing to make people laugh and especially to do it in a way that the whole family can watch it — that’s even tougher, because then you’re not making any adult jokes. I wonder how many shows the OTT platforms have been able to make in the past six-seven years that tick these boxes. Yes, they’ve done adult comedies, crime thrillers and even romances. Our show is more like a family drama comedy, not out-and-out comedy.
Mona, you have quite a body of work in this space. Do you agree that there are too few comedy shows?
Mona: More of such content should be made. Everything is geared towards thrillers and crime, suspense and narcotics. Of course, we also love watching those shows but light shows are also important. But, as Kunaal said, they’re difficult to write. I’m glad our show is coming out at the right time, when people need the change.
You have been vocal in support of mental health awareness.
Mona: Yes. I also support this emotional wellness app, called Coto — Come Together. It’s mainly for women who feel anxious, depressed or mentally not okay. It lets them speak up, reach out for help and not consider it a taboo. It’s been a year since I’ve associated with them.
What’s coming up from you?
Mona: I have Kohrra 2 (Netflix) and Border 2 coming out, and I have another show on Amazon called Ma Kasam, which should also come out pretty soon. Thode Door Thode Paas is going to be my third release this year. I’m experiencing this for the first time and enjoying it thoroughly.
The accolades must still be coming in for Ba***ds of Bollywood?
Mona: Oh yes! I got a brilliant response. People were just blown off seeing the climax. Nobody could believe I was doing that in the end of the show. Life came to a full circle. I was hidden during the promotions of Jassi; my identity was not let out. The same happened in Ba***ds of Bollywood. For me, people didn’t know what was going to happen in the end.
And Kunaal, what about you?
Kunaal: I’ve got a show on Amazon which should be out later in the year or maybe early next year. And then another film for them as well, which will also be out maybe mid next year or later next year.
Is there a chance of TVF Tripling getting a fourth season?
Kunaal: I have to take that up with our writer and actor, Sumit (Vyas). He will be the best person to answer that, because he’s writing the show. So if he writes another season, then yeah, we’ll be back.
Mona, a reel showed your restaurant Kona Kona selling Darjeeling momo. What cuisine does it serve?
Mona: Oh, you have to come to Kona Kona, ma’am. We’ve got Bong food also. It serves Indian food — hamare desh ki kona kona. You see, because of an Army background, I’ve travelled to all these places, and I wanted to include everything that I’ve eaten in one small menu of ours, so kept it all Indian and with a little twist.