I am an actor, not a stand-up comedian: Dilip Joshi

Dilip Joshi, who has won innumerable awards like People's Choice Awards India, Indian Television Academy Awards, 5th Boroplus Gold Awards, BIG Star Entertainment Awards, Sab Ke Anokhe Awards and not to mention our in house Indian Telly Awrads this year for his comic role in SAB TV’s Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (Neela Telefilms), talks to Tellychakkar.com about his life and his current show that happens to be the longest running serial on the channel. A lowdown: With Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah doing so well, how do you feel? I obviously feel being on cloud nine. Did you expect Jethalal to create such a buzz? (Pauses) Every role that an actor takes up isvia trial and error method. While doing the show, you learn and improve. So when I took up playing Jethalal, it was the same with me and I am glad it hit off so well. You have done theatre, movies and television. What is the platform you feel that suits to showcase your talent? (Smiles) Look. As an actor, I am here to act; hence mediums don’t matter. It’s like in theatre, you perform live and the result is instant, on television, since you work in daily soaps, the results take some time to come in. I feel an actor should enjoy every single project that he takes up. Currently, I am enjoying my journey in television doing Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, but if I am free and some films come my way where the makers are good and the film is interesting, I would definitely take it up. So do you mean to say that every actor has been through an un-employment phase? (Laughs) That is a part and parcel of this profession! Until now I was doing theatre and now that I am acting in a daily soap where commitment is much higher, I cannot do theatre now. So for me, theatre is like a back-up. I mean even Amitabh Bachchan could not survive this situation; leave alone the others. So which TV personalities do you like watching the most? Of course Amitji. Standup comedy is now in vogue. Do you plan to get into that too in the future? Standup comedy is not everybody’s cup of tea. I am an actor and not a stand-up comedian. I mean it’s simple; all actors cannot do stand-up comedy and not all stand-up comedians can perform. Comedy is not an easy genre; it is indeed difficult to make people laugh. Now that Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is doing so well, people have higher expectations too. What I need is a script and rehearsals; am not comfortable doing standup comedy. You must be getting a lot many offers for other shows. So why stick to only Taarak Mehta? (Smiles) It is not that I am not being offered good roles, but by the grace of God if you are doing one show, why do you want to do too many things at one time. I would rather concentrate on this show and give my 100 per cent to it. You are always found in a jolly mood and we have often seen you making people laugh. What is it that ticks you off? I hate hypocrisy and hypocrites. Any plans for Navratri? (Smiles) Yes, I will observe Navratri, but on the sets.