Sunil Grover: Impersonation is not mimicry, it’s a celebration of people

If anyone can slip into the skin of Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, or even Gulzar saab with uncanny ease, it is Sunil Grover. His razor-sharp impersonations routinely set the internet buzzing, and his take on Aamir Khan drew praise from the actor himself. In this conversation, Sunil reflects on craft, pressure, admiration and the slow burn of stardom.

‘It’s a gift I try to preserve’

Asked about his ability to capture voices and mannerisms, Sunil admits he does not fully understand how it happens. He says, “It just happens. Hum toh karte rehte hain aur kayi baar cheezein click kar jaati hain. It’s instinctive. I see it as a gift, and I try to preserve and nurture it. Even I surprise myself sometimes and think, ‘Did I really do that?’ Sometimes it doesn’t land, but that’s part of the journey. Jab nahi hota, tab samajh lena chahiye ki abhi taiyaari chal rahi hai.”

Despite bringing so many characters to life, he acknowledges that the nervousness never disappears. He says, “It’s not just butterflies in the stomach; sometimes it feels like huge birds are flying inside! Pressure should only be to the extent that it helps you give your best. If you take too much pressure, you won’t perform well. Our job is to enjoy what we do. The only real pressure is when there is no work.”

‘Presenting Gulzar saab in a comic light had to be done carefully’

Sunil remembers hesitating before performing one of his most talked-about acts. He says, “There was an impersonation of Gulzar saab. I kept wondering at night whether I should attempt it and how it would be received. He is such a respected and celebrated poet and writer. Presenting him in a comic light had to be done carefully, especially since we were blending humour with reverence.”

‘Stardom doesn’t make any difference to me’

His recent impersonation of Aamir became a talking point when the actor himself called it fantastic and said he laughed the loudest while watching it. Sunil describes that appreciation as deeply affirming. He shares, “When appreciation comes from someone like Aamir Khan, whom I admire, it feels deeply rewarding. I respect his passion for his craft and the love he has for his work.”

For Sunil, however, it is never about fame. He says, “Stardom bohot achhi cheez hai aur popularity mil jaati hai, par main unki skills ka fan hoon. Mujhe artiste ki art intimidate karti hai, their approach to art, their talent and what they do with it. That amazes me more than a person’s popularity. Stardom doesn’t make any difference

to me.”

‘I started mimicking everyone around me in Class Six’

His journey began early. Sunil recalls, “I was in class six when I first impersonated veteran actor Rajendra Nath. He remains my favourite. Watching him brought me immense joy. Of course, I was copying teachers and relatives. That’s how it all began.”

Did that lay the foundation for his comedy? He reflects, “Kayi baar aap woh karne lagte ho jisme log aapko pasand karte hain. I didn’t know people would enjoy my impersonations. There was a phase of Gutthi and Mashoor Gulati. Abhi impersonation ka phase chal raha hai, toh dekhte hain kab tak uska maza le sakte hain. Kabhi kabhi darr bhi hota hai ki audience ko achha lagega ki nahi.”

‘For me, impersonation is a tribute’

In an era where celebrities are protective of their personality rights, Sunil takes a light-hearted view. “Jis kaam ko main kar raha hoon, main chahta hoon koi rokk na lagaye,” he jokes, adding, “A colleague once suggested that I secure my personality rights. I told him, ‘Main khud doosron ki copy kar raha hoon, tu mujhe kya bol raha hai personality rights ka. Main kisi ko kaise rokunga?’”

For him, impersonation is rooted in admiration. “Unless I genuinely like someone, I cannot impersonate them. There has to be something distinct about them that fascinates me. I must enjoy the process of becoming them. I don’t see it as mere mimicry. It’s a celebration of people,” he emphasises.

‘Sometimes I wonder whether I deserve this love’

The internet often calls him ‘exceptional’, compares him to a chameleon and describes him as someone who redefined the word behroopiya. Ask him about his stardom and he laughs, “Yeh itna dheere dheere hua hai ki mujhe pata hi nahi chala. When it comes to popularity and its ups and downs, I relate to Sahir Ludhianvi’s line, ‘Main pal do pal ka shaayar hoon’. It sums it up. Although it reflects reality, woh reality sunn kar aap kaam nahi kar sakte.”

He adds, “I feel fortunate and grateful for all this love. Sometimes I wonder whether I deserve it. The joy lies in seeing something you once enjoyed privately beginning to resonate with others. When people connect with it, that makes me truly happy. I’m simply grateful and hope to continue doing what I love.”