‘I am here to entertain people’: Sunil Grover

If there’s one thing common amongst the reviews for Bharat, it’s Sunil Grover’s performance. As Salman Khan’s friend Vilayati, the actor has garnered appreciation from all quarters. “I feel lucky to have been a part of such a huge movie. Moreover, when you are acknowledged for your performance, you feel extra happy,” he states. While the actor has provided us with many moments of laughter with his comedy act on the small screen, Sunil believes he was successful in his attempt to get the audience to sit up and take notice of him even in the not-so-light moments in Bharat. Over to the actor...

Was there any compliment in particular which was more special than the others? 

All my friends and close ones liked my performance. I had been travelling for live shows of late, and I met so many people, who praised me in their own language and words. The thing is, I have this image of doing comedy. Here, I was attempting something which is not always light-hearted — there were some scenes of serious nature in the film. So, I was apprehensive that audiences should not laugh at those  or at the emotions. But fortunately, they accepted and acknowledged the motive, and that felt good.

Was there any extra pressure on you since you are a constant presence in the film and it was a huge project? 

I had the pressure of sharing the screen space with Salman sir. So, I had to gel with the story and character. It’s a Salman Khan film. All those people coming to watch him should feel that I belong to the world that he’s created. And now, I feel the attempt was successful. Also, I completely followed director Ali Abbas Zafar’s vision. He was clear about the script. Sometimes, Salman sir would provide suggestions to improvise and he would give cues, so he also helped me with various things. 

(Salman Khan and Sunil Grover in Bharat)

Since you have been doing comedy all these years, do you think you would be able to pull off a dark, intense character if it was offered to you?  

Why not? Actually, there are a few such offers. I haven’t locked anything yet. It all depends on the filmmaker and my conviction in him. If it thrills me and there’s a possibility to entertain the audience, I would do it. Entertainment should be the key. It should not be to make a showreel of sorts. The motive should be, does this have the potential to entertain people? Because that’s what I want to do and all the tools and craft should be utilised to achieve that goal. 

What’s next for you, is it something on the small screen or the big screen?  

Whatever feels right, I treat all screens equally. It’s just that the process is different. On the small screen, you have to deliver in a day. In films, it’s more concentrated. It’s a new thing for me. I enjoy working on a character and playing with its various layers. I have experienced television for a long time, so this is fresh for me.