'If I had become father at a younger age, I would probably have been casual about it.'
Tusshar Kapoor makes his debut in the digital medium with the Web Series, Booo Sabki Phategi, co-starring Mallika Sherawat.
The horror comedy spoofs Hindi films to bring on the laughs, but Tusshar surprisingly tells Rediff.com Contributor Divya Solgama, "I am not a fan of spoofs."
Did you consciously plan to make your debut in Booo Sabki Phategi?
It was unplanned; it just happened.
Farhad (Samji, director) and Alt Balaji were collaborating with the Web series, Baby Come Na that came out earlier.
While that was being made, there was a plan to make another comedy and Farhad expressed his desire to have me as one of the protagonists.
Finally, Booo Sabki Phategi took shape and we are fortunate that the trailer was appreciated.
Whether the show is promoted well or not, if it works, it will go to another level.
I hope Booo Sabki Phategi becomes a game changer.
Booo Sabki Phategi looks very massy. Do you feel Bollywood should have done this a long time ago?
Every medium has its own journey.
Earlier, Indian cinema was making a different kind of movies. Then, it got bigger and bigger.
Similarly, online platforms have been growing since the last few years but they still have a lot to explore.
I hope Booo Sabki Phategi gives a new beginning to the dark, intense and serious or romantic kind of shows that are being made.
I believe fun, light-hearted and commercial shows will entertain the audience.
The series has spoofed Bollywood films.
Yes, Farhad has done gags very well, like the references to Stree and Golmaal.
But these references are not disconnected with the main story. They come with the flow.
They not only make you laugh, they also scare you.
Is it tough to make spoofs?
They are very difficult to make.
To be honest, I am not a fan of spoofs.
I like horror comedy, where spoofs can be an added flavor.
But a film based on only spoofs is difficult to make.
Whenever we have made fun of the film industry in the movies, they did not work.
So it's tough to make a film on spoofs.
Why didn't you debut in a Web series earlier?
I guess it's all about destiny.
Ekta (Kapoor) would have approached me earlier if the script demanded me for a certain role.
She had bounced off some ideas earlier, but I was not ready to do a Web series at that point of time.
I was not sure about the future of the medium.
I was filled with questions like would this medium be useful for my career, would it reach a wide audience, should I jump on the Web platform as Golmaal 4 had just been released...
I was a bit confused.
But when this show happened, I realised it would be another feather on my hat.
Has Ekta ever approached you for television shows?
No. I was only approached to give my appearance for the 1,000th episode or something like that.
But it is not like I was never approached for any show.
Such shows are very long. To give that much time is very difficult for me.
Eventually, I will not do justice to my role and to the show.
Your character in Golmaal has become very popular. Have you had any fan moments?
When I visit a park with my son, a lot of children come to me and ask, 'Are you the one from Golmaal?'
And upon learning that it is me, it puts a smile on their faces and gives them so much happiness.
That makes me very happy because children are our future audience.
If the Golmaal franchise remains alive, you will remain alive.
Every new generation will start watching Golmaal on television, and your audience will keep growing.
I don't want to lose that.
Your father Jeetendra once said in an interview that the only regret he had was that he could not give enough time to his children. Is that why you are so attached to your son?
I think it's because I became a father at an older age than when he became a father.
Only at a certain age do you feel ready to become a parent because you value it more.
I have taken this as a blessing from God because I have waited for it.
For me, it happened at the right time.
If I had become father at a younger age, I would probably have been casual about it.
What else are you working on?
I am going to be a part of a thriller, which is different from what I have done before.
It's in the murder-mystery zone.
You have been a part of good films like Shor In The City and Shootout At Lokhandwala. Yet, we don't see you much in movies. Why do you think people do not approach you with films?
The industry is like that and I understand it, as I have born and brought up in the industry.
They always think through a commercial angle.
The audience will love you for whatever you do well in films, but the industry will look from the commercial angle.
They will go by what the distributors say and your last success.
I cannot change this mindset because they are putting their money in it.
For them, success is the only factor and if you are successful in a certain genre, they will approach you only for that particular genre.
I have to break that mold myself and that's why I am working in this thriller.
