EXCLUSIVE! Maniesh Paul: I want to be the jugnu who can make people smile

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Maniesh Paul who has garnered praises and love from cine-goers for his performance in Jugjugg Jeeyo opens up about his journey, shooting experience, rejections and many more in an exclusive conversation with Ashish Tiwari of First India News.

Maniesh has been known for spreading smiles and laughter wherever the actor goes speaking on the same he shared, “I have been God-gifted, I never plan things it happens organically. I just want the people around me should be happy on the set on the shows or wherever I go I make sure the BTS team is happy as there should be a smile on the face that would reflect on screen too. As they say ‘Khushiyan Baatne se Badhti hai’.”

The actor said, “As an artist, it’s important to manage the professional and personal life and both should work smoothly the balance between the two is very important.” Speaking on his personal experience the actor shares, “Fortunately have been blessed with a wonderful family who allows me to be myself when I am at work but at the same time when I am with them, I don’t indulge in anything related to work.”

Maniesh has been in the industry as long as one can remember speaking on his journey the actor shares, “When I first stepped in Mumbai it was to make my name and to spread laughter and smiles. And to achieve it I needed to let go of many things. I was prepared for all the rejections and criticism but I was determined to achieve success. I want to impress people with my work.”

With the success comes rejections Maniesh shares his mantra of dealing with rejections, “The journey has splendid, I don’t look back and regret anything that has happened I feel Whatever happens it happens for a reason. Life’s like a train journey and everything that comes your way is like a station it should be treated that way so whatever I have done has taught me many things. On the journey, I met many people, faced many rejections, and many people criticised but at the same time many people appreciated me as well. Someone told me to take everything easy and go with the flow. So, if something upsets me, I get sad for 5mins and then move on. I believe life is a very beautiful thing and one must nurture it and take life as it comes.  When I used to go for auditions other people often asked me if these things affected and I always told them today is not my time but tomorrow will be mine and I left the auditions with a smile. So, for me, it’s not about time always sometimes we don’t deliver a good play so I tend to learn and explore the reason behind my rejections.”

While Maniesh has a commendable journey in the industry when asked about the people who rejected the actor he said, “I have many people in my life who have rejected me earlier but now are really good friends to me. I have never held any grudges against any person or any situation because at the end of the day we have to work in the same industry amidst the same people. They are the ones who will criticise but the same people will provide you with an opportunity to get applauded.”

On being asked what kept him going the host turned actor said, “I am a very emotional person, I cry at the tiniest inconvenience but at the same time I don’t let sadness overpower me. I feel it’s a time waste. I want to be the jugnu who can make people smile that’s what matters to me and makes me happy. As I said at some point in life, we need to pretend a lot of things. I don’t hold on to things I believe in ending things by sorting things out by talking.”

It’s a known fact that the Mickey Virus actor shares a very heartfelt bond with everyone in the industry be it a Bollywood star or a television actor; Maniesh Paul is someone who has been loved everywhere. The actor shares, “Whenever I make a joke on any celebrity, we enjoy the same jokes during the afterparty. I appreciate that others don’t take my jokes seriously. After every show, I've only received calls appreciating my gigs and jokes. I know Karan Johar Sir for a long time but I’ve never asked him for a film. I feel that he knows me and when he feels apt, he’ll cast me for the same. For me maintaining a friendship with Karan is the priority.”

Being a fanboy, the actor also shares a special bond with BigB, the actor recalls, “I remember Bachchan sir had tweeted that ‘Maniesh this is for you JugJugg Jeeyo’ it took me 10-12 days to digest this appreciation. I cannot describe the feeling it was such a happy moment. Every time I do something new, I message Bachchan sir and take his blessing.”

Sharing his experience of working in the Dharma film Jugjugg Jeeyo, the actor shares,” The dialogues in the film are splendid but Thanks to Varun and Raj Mehta, they gave me the freedom to modify certain dialogues. It feels great when my one-liners from the movie are being picked up and loved by the audience. The vibe and the atmosphere on the set of Jug Jug Jeeyo were so beautiful that we all worked on the same vibe I think that has come up on screen too. It's very different as an actor and a host. Being the host, I have a command over things while during acting I am completely dependent on the director. As co-actors, the entire cast has been fantastic.”

Sharing his dream and fears Maniesh mentioned, “My ultimate dream is to entertain people to the fullest I don’t want to disappoint anyone who’s watching me. I am not scared of anything I just want to sustain the humour that has been God-gifted to me, Bachchan sir being my inspiration.”

Speaking on the ongoing debate over south Industry and Bollywood the actor said, “In India, there is the south, north, east, west so I don’t feel like differentiating between them, in the end, all of us are Hindustani we all are one as an Industry. I am open to doing films of any language be it south, Punjabi or Bengali.”

Well, the actor has been on a roll with delivering some promising roles on screen. As per the sources Maniesh is all set to be a part of an OTT thriller show. It will be exciting to watch the comedian doing a serious thriller show.