Interview with Actor Shatrughan Shukla

Shatrughan Shukla , a versatile actor belongs originally to Bihar and residing in Lucknow since birth. He has his background of acting into the theatres.The versatile actor joined acting as a hobby and is know currently doing large number of serials and films.

· Why have chosen acting as your career.

· Well I belong to a very normal middle class family and had plans to become an Engineer. But unfortunately while I was studying engineering in Delhi I was rusticated from the institute. When I was studying in Lucknow University I got be associated with IPTA around 1989. Acting was a hobby for me and I was passionate about it. I joined commercial theater in 1995. Then I worked in BNA. after BNA I got to work in Telefilms and serials.

· Tell us about the various roles you have performed as an actor.

· I have worked for various plays like Khoja Nassrudin, Ram Lila, Chehrey, Ek Ghoda 6 sawar, Miss Ahluwalia. My first serial was Nason Ki Tauba in 1992-93. Have worked for various ad films. Films like Vidna Terey Desh in Bhojpuri.

· What are your Up coming Projects?

· Currently I am working for serials like Ek Dhanwaan Husband Ki Khoj for DD lucknow, Kuchh Khatta Kuchh Meetha for CNEB channel, HI handsome, Kunti ka Jhola. Few upcoming hindi and bhojpuri films.

· Who are your favourite actors?

· My Favourite actors are Sanjeev Kumar, Amol Palekar. I highly admire that era of films and acting. Our earlier Indian films and their characters were the true reflection of the common man and society. And the actors were very versatile still very authentic, original and not imitative. Which is somewhere missing in current bollywood scenario.

· What are your future plans?

· Well I have played various kinds of roles comic, serious as well as pathos. So doing something new and different I would like to become a producer.

· How much working in theatres can be beneficial to the artists?

· Theaters in its previous days were best platform for actors to exhibit their talents. but it was not paying and could not provide monetary gains. In present time too it gives same good platform but it is now commercially feasible too for the actors and can pay to artists. Still theaters are admired by good and desiring actors and prefer theatres to satisfy their needs and perform their talents.

· What is difference in platform provided by theatres and films for actors?

· There is a big difference, theatres are good for work, opportunities and it provides direct contact with audience and their response but could not provide popularity and fame. So the films provide a very big and good platform, whatever an actors needs and wish about money, name, fame, glamour. It gives national and international exposure to an actor in shortest of the time.

· What is your experience related to the field of acting

· In our society still acting is not considered a promising and good career. Especially middle class families do not appreciate the decision of being an actor. moreover according to my experience one has to be very enduring when the society does not favour you. So within yourself you must carry that caliber and confidence that you can face them.

· How you got to work with Road2tinselville?

· I have been associated with road2tinselvile since 2007 and I have worked in two albums Pariyon Ki Rani and Maiya ka Saneshwa for road2tinselville.

· What are those benefits you find being associated with Road2tinselville

· Road2tinselville is itself a big banner and gives a bigger stage of exposure to artists. Artists might have done a whole lot of work but unless and until they get a connection with a big name and banner they cannot gain popularity among people. Road2tinselville does give that good work and profitable exposure which ca be cashed by artists.

· What is your suggestion for the people willing to become an actor?

· Well I would say that good actors have various opportunities in this field , there are various actors whom I know and started their career from theaters itself and now they are doing good work like Jaya BAttachharya, Ram Awana(BNA) of Zameen film, Govind Khatri, Romanchak. So anyone can reach their destinations in their career.

Interview with actor Avinash Shukla

Avinash Shukla , a well known comic actor from Bhojpuri Films carries the badge of actor since 1991 and has his roots of acting into theatres. He credits the talent of acting to his father whom he had seen performing in Ram Lila. Avinash carried the seeds of acting in him but he owes his work entirely to his destiny and luck. Initially he started working for theatres and started getting offers for movies and serials. Avinash Shukla has been into acting career since long and worked for an album with Road2tinselville and gained the awaited popularity among audiences for his career.

• How it happened to enter into the acting career.
• Initially I had no plans to become an actor. Due to some reasons I could not continue my studies that I wished. But I had my likings for acting and related work so I joined plays, then theatres and from there I continued to be associated with acting and finally I am here in this field.

• What are those projects that you have worked
• I have worked in various diversified projects like films, Serials, Ad films, and Albums. Many of them are on the floor.

My bhojpuri films are Kahia Doli Leke Aiba. Piparva Par Ke Barahm(first horror movie of Bhojpuri), Chaila Babu with Ayub Khan, Gajab Bhail Rama with Rahul Rai, Lagan released on Mahua Channel.

I have worked in serials like Mano Ya Naa Mano for Star Plus. Adrshya for DD2. for Gorakhpur Doordashan Indrajaal. Dastaney Jurm for etv channel, Tak Jhaak etc

Worked for albums like Pariyom ki Rani and Panghat Key Teerey.

• What are your Up coming Projects?
• Currently I am working in Bhojpuri Films; serials like Hamar Goria, Maa Vaibhav Laxmi. In which I am playing the role of Narad Muni.

• What is your favourite role that you have performed?
• Its bit difficult to answer my favourite work as still a lot is to be done. But to mention if any, recently I got to work for the role of Narad Muni it was very interesting and different to play that character for me.

• Any special kind of role you want to perform
• Since very long I have been performing comic and advanced old age roles. Now I wish to perform a negative and intense character.

• Any interesting incident you remember while acting.
• Well acting is so deep and intense thing and we completely indulge into the character and forget our sores and pain this I realized while playing the role of Narad Muni, I got injuries but still continued to work without caring about it.

• What is your experience related to the field of acting
• According to my experience I would like to say that acting career is like the two sides of a coin. The more the fame and glamour is on one side while on the other side a lot of struggle, failure and dissatisfaction lies. So it is not easy to make yourself firm on the ground. Few of the time actors may have good work in hand while for rest they may be workless. So apart from just the will to be an actor there are various other factor that counts and leads you ahead.

• How you got to work with Road2tinselville
• I got to know about the good platform offered by Road2tinselville and willingly applied for the registration. Which in return proved beneficial for my career.

• What are those benefits you find being associated with Road2tinselville
• An actor also needs recognition and fame among masses. I have been working since long as an actor but fame and recognition was still lacking. . I got to work for album Pariyon Ki Rani with Road2tonselville and it being a big banner provided me popularity and fame. So being associate with a big banner will always benefit an artist here.

• What is your suggestion for the people willing to become an actor?
• As per my experiences I would like to suggest that struggling actors should look to make their profile strong. And they should be ready for all kind of hardships. As things may not be certain all the time they should also learn to make good contacts with the people from this field. Above all if one fails to establish itself in the field they should have another option in hand for their livelihood.