Rawal’s naughty at 40

Being funny is serious business. An approach that makes Paresh Rawal a great comedian. If it’s a comic role, then he will most certainly not take it lightly.
No wonder then, some of this actor’s best performances have been in comedies. As the alcoholic garage owner in Hera Pheri, the henpecked husband in Awara Pagal Deewana and the bucolic rich business tycoon in Hungama, Paresh Rawal’s recent performances have been unforgettable.
Yet, it is theatre that he truly cherishes.Which is probably why his role as the philandering married man who’s Naughty At Forty in his latest play, is stunningly convincing. With Bollywood currently riding a high, comedies are also raking in the moolah.
"Whether it is theatre or films, there is an increasing market for comedy. That’s the trend right now," he feels As for Hindi films, he says, "They keep making good and bad films. I do whatever comes my way with full conviction. I am just the actor and when the director says ‘cut’, my job ends. After that it really does not matter if I win awards or accolades.
The greatest form of appreciation for me is when someone notices my work, even to criticise it. It is my wife, Swaroop Sampat and my friends who are my biggest critics. They have seen me grow and know what I am capable of."
As a part of the industry, Paresh has two grievances. "If there is one hit, everyone will make a copy of that story or of that genre. Despite our diverse culture there is mental bankruptcy here. I suspect it is because, Indians, barring a few, are lazy."
When Paresh is not acting, he likes to hang around with his theatre colleagues. "Or else, I spend time with my family. My kids Aniruddha and Aditya are 14 and 11. I don’t believe in imposing anything on them. One wants to become a cricketer and the other wants to take up hotel management," he says.