Exclusive - Sunil Grover on working with Salman Khan: He never made me feel like he is a big superstar

Sunil Grover is going to return to the small screen after a long gap with 'Gangs of Filmistan' (GOF). The comedian’s show is all set to air tonight (August 31). ETimes TV got in touch with the actor for an exclusive chat. The actor spoke about challenges to do comedy in a daily show, online trolls, bond with Salman Khan and more. By: Sukarna Mondal

I feel very happy, I feel delighted, I feel grateful that I am getting an opportunity to be on television from Monday to Friday for one hour. And in these tough times, we are getting an opportunity to make people smile. This is what we know and this is what we are doing.

It is challenging definitely and more in these times as there are restrictions with a limited team. But I think the team we have created and the way we have scheduled things is quite appreciable. They have designed it properly. The theme is clear that this is a Bollywood spoof show and there will be gags related to various Hindi films. So we are shooting gag wise.

I get to witness their performances. I play a don, who appreciates and laughs because he needs to laugh. And these people will make me laugh.

That used to be a different format, what we did previously…It was different set-up and had weekend feeling. This is a weekday format where I will be playing various other characters. This character is new for me and quite refreshing. There’s no live audience, there’s no celebrity coming. It’s a new fresh world.

Whenever I used to open my social media accounts, I saw news and so many things happenings. It used to be a very tensed ‘mahol’ (scenario). I thought why not share something light and bring a smile on everyone’s face.

I don’t bother about them. If it’s a genuine criticism of something, then I get to know. No matter what you say, there is going to be an opinion on what you have said. For example, if someone write Sun rises from the East, someone will comment but when there’s a cloud, sun doesn’t rise. Then what do I do? There’s some negativity. The genuine accounts are ok, there are some fake accounts. I don’t understand that they wouldn’t use slang from their original account. Some people’s way of thinking doesn’t suit me. If you want to criticise me, just say that you don’t like my performance. But why does the sentence have to start with ‘maa’ ‘behen’ gaalis? I have stopped bothering about them, however, I do acknowledge genuine comments.

At the start, when there used to be harsh comments I would wonder that I didn’t perform that bad. It starts playing in your head when something like this pops up in between good comments. There’s a social media world, and there are 20-50 people’s mean comments, who don’t even have an identity. So, when I see majority is not bothered, I stop bothering about haters.

The one thing that inspires me is when I see people laugh or smile. That is the most inspiring and fulfilling thing. Second is money. I am just kidding about the money part. Third is, the applause you get from people and I love acting, what I do.

I try and make it look like a tribute. I don’t see it as an act of making fun. I don’t do that. Most of the actors I mimic, I am their fan. They have influenced, entertained me and I am in awe of them. I love them so much, and my mimic acts are a tribute to them.

I remember once Shah Rukh Khan said, ‘Yaar, main aisa toh nhi karta’. Once I performed in front of Ajay Devgn and he laughed. Actors mostly laugh seeing the acts. So far, I have never got any negative response. People celebrate them, we also celebrate them. I have been lucky.

I have had the opportunity and been privileged to have worked with him. I am saying priviledged because I have been his fan in my growing up years. When I was working in Bharat, he never made me feel like he is a big superstar. This was my first big-scale film, a substantial role, good number of days and also travel with him, it has been a great experience. He never interfered and gave me my space. He has been very cordial and this is what sets him apart.