JOIN USIt has been a long day for Manav Gohil, the shooting that began at 7 am has ended at 9.30 pm on the sets in Film City, Goregaon, suburban Mumbai.
Playing a mythological god in contemporary urban setting isn’t easy, after all. Especially if the character is replete with more than a funny bone. He plays Yam in Yam Hai Hum, an Indian fantasy situation comedy.
“I didn’t aim for television comedy,” says Manav, who has starred in projects like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kasauti Zindagi Kay, Kusum and Nach Baliye 2 earlier. “I was completely averse to the idea, frankly. The comedy is loud, not funny, and marked by spoon-fed dialogues and canned laughter.”
What about Yam Hai Hum appealed to him? “Good question,” he remarks with a smile. “When I read the script, I realised that the show was a slice of life peppered with drama and a pinch of humour. It captures the trials and tribulations of Lord Yam on earth, which I found quite hilarious.”
Manav’s gamble has payed off as the show explores a new genre in the crowded template of saas-bahu soaps and is cutting through clutter with its use of Urdu and pure Hindi in its dialogues.
Manav, who has wrapped up The Buddy Project with Channel V last year, taken off to the US to perform in a string of shows, has now taken up Yam Hai Hum. His life has been a hectic drill since then: shooting seven days a week, round the clock. “I work for at least 12 hours a day, as it is a daily show, and we are always racing against time to build up a bank,” he says.
The response to the show has been overwhelming. Kids are absolutely floored by the humorous take on the wicked god of doom, who appears anything but draconian. “My ‘Yam laughter’ is famous,” says Manav. “Oddly enough, the booming laughter came out of my majboori of not disturbing my big mooch every time I laughed on screen. So an impromptu improvisation has worked to my advantage.
Many kids visit the sets, guided by their parents and grandparents. And the common request, apart from selfies, is to ask me to laugh like Yam,” he shares. Of course, Manav is overwhelmed by the attention and love that is pouring in the form of tweets, fan mails, ‘likes’ on his Facebook and sms galore.
The slick marketing by the television channel has boosted the show’s visibility. Though Manav has essayed a role in a Gujarati film earlier and is game for more films, good work is all he is concerned. On asking what the most challenging bit about playing Yam has been, he says, “The rigorous body make-up and hair routine.
The aabhushan (ornaments) are a bit heavy, so in between shots, I remove my mukut (crown) and my kara (bangles) as they are the heaviest. But I am enjoying every minute of it. Though I wish we had a little more time to dwell on the good scenes instead of rushing through to meet deadlines.”
Does his two-year-old son, Zahra-Tabitha, feel daunted to watch him in a traditional splendour on screen? “She’s curious, but not scared. She loves watching me on the television. My wife Shweta (Kawatra) gets to spend more time with her, as she is shooting for Bal Veer, which requires her to spare fewer hours.
I look forward to spending time with Zahra when I reach home, and get to tuck her into bed. That’s my quality time with her. I hope to take a weeks off in March for a family holiday in the US, or maybe make a quick trip to Goa before that!”