Ask Maniesh Paul the secret of his eversmiling face and he asks you for a million dollars. He’s the man with a hundred comebacks lined up. Someone who knows the art of delivery and no, he isn’t a bowler or a gynaecologist. Maniesh Paul always greets you like a long-lost friend and proceeds to tell you a fictional story about your last meeting, which is so entertaining you don’t have the heart to correct him. He is observant as hell so you remember to keep a poker face and mind your ps and qs, otherwise he’s sure to use your gaffes as the material for his next joke. But behind the quick smile, the quick laugh, hides a man who has as many problems as you and I. The difference is that he has learnt to laugh at them, learnt to turn them into punchlines. We’ve been chasing him for an interview for a long time and finally got to chat with him about being the entertainer he is and his aspirations of being a big screen star. Excerpts:
Did your life get changed after JugJugg Jeeyo?
My life has definitely changed after JugJugg Jeeyo. Before this, many filmmakers lacked confidence in giving me a role. JugJugg Jeeyo has shattered this myth. And the biggest credit goes to Karan Johar sir and my director, Raj Mehta, who gave me a lot of freedom to play the character.
You must already have an equation with Anil Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, as you have done many shows with them.
This story is from the October 2023 edition of Filmfare.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2023 edition of Filmfare.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Breaking free
NIKKHIL ADVANI'S MAKING WAVES WITH HIS OTT DEBUT, FREEDOM AT MIDNIGHT. HE TALKS ABOUT ITS GENESIS, HIS ASSOCIATION WITH KARAN JOHAR, AND WHAT'S REAL STARDOM WITH SRIJITA SEN
DECK THE HALLS
Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson join Tanzim Pardiwalla over a video call about their forthcoming Christmas film, Red One, possible Bollywood crossovers and their love for India
Class Act
NEHA DHUPIA SHARES THE SECRET OF JUGGLING MOTHERHOOD AND CAREER WHILE STAYING RELEVANT WITH FARHANA FAROOK
Deep end of the Ocean
Cancer survivor Mahima Chaudhary tells Farhana Farook that playing a similar person in The Signature proved cathartic for her
DESTINY'S WILD CHILD
ALAYA F CAUGHT IN A CONVERSATION WITH JITESH PILLAAI
SEOUL CONNECTION
Director Hwang Dong Hyuk and lead actors Lee Jung Jae and Wi Ha Joon of Squid Game fame talk about the global phenomenon with Tanzim Pardiwalla
"Smita was a victim.not a villain"
Manya Patil-Seth tells Farhana Farook why her late sister Smita Patil was a tragic contradiction – a pioneer of an actor but a prey of emotions
Best of Shatrughan Sinha's Rapid fire
With democracy facing a near-death situation in most of India's neighbouring countries, what, according to you, is the reason why Indian democracy is still standing strong in the current times? Gaurav Pant, New Delhi
THE RISE AND RISE OF PUSHPA 2
When Allu Arjun went to Patna around a month ago to showcase the trailer of Pushpa 2, naysayers mocked the move, stating that he's making a mistake about taking a Telugu film there. Guess what, the actor had the last laugh.
girl, uninterrupted
Fatima Sana Shaikh is so candid and forthright you don't believe she's a star.
