Raveena Tandon

Andaaz Apna Apna to Aunty No. 1, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan to Dulhe Raja... many a Bolly blockbuster is witness to Raveena Tandon’s comic talent. Now as the captain and judge of Comedy Ka Maha Muqabla on STAR Plus, the mast-mast girl is rediscovering her funny bone. A t2 chat…

How has the experience on Comedy Ka Maha Muqabla been so far?

Well, we have had our ups and downs, honestly. This is my fifth reality show after Chak De, Chhote Miyan Bade Miyan and the Bangla show Boudimoni, which was a very big hit. But this, somehow, has had its share of problems. There were teething problems where the production company (Reliance Big Productions) and I had some differences. They removed two members of my team (Sudesh Lahiri and Aashka Goradia) early on and my team never stabilised after that. But otherwise, the show — as a concept, as a format — is superb. Even the reactions that we are getting from people are really good. The amount of talent we work with is amazing. In fact, there are so many of them who I believe deserve not only to be on TV but also in films. I keep telling them: “God, if I get a chance, I will push you into the movies!”

What are the dynamics between you and your team, Raveena Ke Mohre?

My team was actually supposed to be an all-girls team. But they kept changing the team and therefore, we could never bond that well. The format of the show is actually something that they had started Music Ka Maha Muqabla with. I think it’s easier for singing mentors to go and perform because they have been singing those songs for years. But for us doing a comedy show, it’s really very difficult because it involves mugging up pages of dialogues and doing it all in a single take. It’s a really tough format because you must be able to put in that amount of time and energy into it. And my team members are doing fabulously well. They put in so much effort into each act, it’s amazing to watch them.

Is there anything new about comedy that you learnt on the show?

This is the first time I have done stand-up comedy. So that’s been a totally new experience for me. I really loved that episode where I dressed up as Duryodhan and did a take-off on Shakti Kapoor. I have done so many comedy films, but this is comedy in a totally different format. In fact, Arshad (Warsi) and I keep discussing that it is so different from ‘Lights-camera-action-sound-cut, okay, not satisfied, let’s do it again’. This is live and you have to give it your best all the time. This has been a great learning experience and it makes you know and appreciate the hard work that these guys put into every act and every episode.

What is the equation with your fellow judges, whom you are also competing against?

Shekhar (Suman) and I have done a film (Ek Se Badhkar Ek) together. Arshad is someone I have known since my college days, while Shreyas (Talpade) and I have just met. He’s a very, very sweet guy. On set, Arshad, Shreyas and I are very close. They are the ones who make this show tolerable for me (laughs). We all keep chatting and laughing and keep ourselves pepped up during the long hours of shoot. It’s great to be around these guys.

Who do you think has the best team?

Everyone has their good days and their bad days. Everyone’s going up and down. That’s the way it is.

Which performer has impressed you the most?

Every team has some really good members. Some are very good, some are outstanding. Vibha, Parul and Sucheta are very good. So also are Sunil Grover and Sahil and Nikhil. Among the established names, there is Supriya Pilgaonkar who is fabulous. But it’s the new guys like Balraj, Ishtiaque and Roshni Chopra who’ve come up with amazing performances. I am literally rolling on the floor every time they’re on stage.

Has comedy always come naturally to you?

I think I discovered my comic side when I started working with Chi Chi (Govinda). Till then, I was still learning and evolving. Emotions come easily to a woman, but I always feel that men have a slight advantage when it comes to comedy. Most often, in comedy, there is a very thin line between what is funny and what is vulgar. Naughty comedy can easily become a little crass and it’s easier for men to handle it and say those lines, as opposed to a woman. My girls team was at a disadvantage right from the start, because the channel told us not to use double-meaning dialogues. But the boys were allowed to say things and get away with it. And honestly,

we didn’t want to stoop down to that level and do double-meaning comedy. I never did double-meaning films in my career with big directors, why should I do it on a TV show? We always wanted it to be a family entertainer and so our acts were always clean. But unfortunately, the audience, more often than not, enjoys humour that is a little crass.

What is the key to being a good comic actor?

A completely bindaas style. You have to have that flair to be a little upfront. And, of course, comic timing and presence of mind.

Who are the best comic actors you have worked with?

It has to be Amitji (Bachchan) and Govinda. People emulate them. I have seen stars copy them blatantly. But nobody can do straight-faced humour or a single-person comic act better than Amitji or Chi Chi. My favourite comic actors of all time would have to be Mehmood bhaijaan and Kishore Kumar. They made us laugh right through our childhood years.

Among the heroines of today, who has good comic timing?

Kareena (Kapoor). I have watched bits and parts of Golmaal and Jab We Met and you can see that she has a genuine flair for comedy.

In Bollywood, who do you think should do more comedy?

Saif Ali Khan, without a doubt. Saif’s timing for comedy is mind-blowing, but of late we have seen him only in serious films. His comic sense is also very British and, therefore, different.

Do we see you in a comedy film soon?

Bbuddha Hoga Tera Baap (co-starring Amitabh Bachchan) is a comedy, but I am only doing a guest appearance in it. I did it for the sheer joy of working with Bachchan saab again and Poori (Jagannath, the director) is also a dear friend. But otherwise I am looking at doing a completely mad-hatter comedy very soon. I would love to do something like Angoor, a comedy of errors with me in a double role!

Any more films in Tollywood?

Well, I have been offered a Bangla film that I am almost saying ‘yes’ to, but talks are on right now. Hopefully, I can tell you soon.