Being Johnny Lever: Comedy king

Johnny ala re. As stand-up comedy finds its feet, Johnny Lever has taken his two-decade-old brand of humour prime time. Launched in June, the show Johnny ala re has had a slow start. But in no time, Johnny - the rowdy mix of mimicry and gags took over the ‘ratings-ruled’ world of television as his uncharted territory.

Anuradha SenGupta: For a long time people have been asking you to venture into the television industry. However, it was only this year that you agreed to do Johnny ala re a television show for Zee. What made you take this decision finally?

Johnny Lever: I was extremely busy earlier when TV offers had started pouring in. I did not take them up because I realised that it’s not that easy to carry off a complete show on your shoulders, without any planning. TV requires much time and efforts because of its huge span of work. So, I took a gap, reduced the number of films that I was doing and took out time for TV.

I did China Town, Deewane hue pagal, Phir hera pheri as these were interesting roles. Otherwise being offered same kind of roles again and again was getting a bit monotonous for me. Having done over 300 films, it was perhaps the right time to take a break and do something different.

Anuradha SenGupta: You are said to be extremely professional in your approach towards work. Whereas TV is concerned you have to constantly meet deadlines and tight delivery schedules. How do you cope up with that? Do you feel that you have had to make a big adjustment?

Johnny Lever: TV involves immense work, and it is extremely painstaking. I did my first show, which was a one-hour long show, once in a week. Suddenly the producers decided to make it seven days a week. They did so because the show was running successfully.

However, only I know how much I had to strain myself to meet their deadlines. Now, things are a little better because it’s duration has been cut to half-an-hour from one-hour. TV is unpredictable. A show can become successful any time and if it doesn’t do well, it can be taken off-air at the same time.

Anuradha SenGupta: People in the TV industry are scared of a remote control, isn’t it?

Johnny Lever: Yes, people are scared of a remote. However, I feel nothing is difficult if you understand its right tune. Nothing is impossible in this world. Besides, we people are nothing but mere labourers. I don’t consider myself a big celebrity or a ‘star’ as you may call it. I am a worker and want to remain that.

Anuradha SenGupta: Do you remember your days at the Hindustan Lever company, where you used to work as a small time employee? How was it like? What were you really doing there?

Johnny Lever: Yes, that is why said I am nothing but a mere worker. Initially when I joined Hindustan Lever, I used to sweep floors. Many other educated boys were there with me doing similar work.

We used to pick up the factory waste. Then gradually I was shifted to the department where catalyst (used to make Dalda vegetable oil) was manufactured. We were allotted grades for our performance. As ones grades progressed, his salary would also increase by a few hundred rupees.

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I got a ‘C’ grade first, and later on was promoted to ‘F’ grade. I hoped to get higher grades to get more earnings. But god had altogether different plans for me. To my grade ‘F’ god added ‘I’ ‘L’ and ‘M’ to make it spell FILM that was to be my real profession.

Anuradha SenGupta: How did you develop your art? At the time when you were a humble worker, did you observe people around you? Did you take mental notes from those people who used to be around you at the factory?

Johnny Lever: I used to practice mimicry, side by side when I was working at the factory. During the lunchtime, when everybody else was out for lunch, I used to bend down my head into a drum and mimic popular actor’s voice. The echo produced by the drum used to amuse me.

People thought I was insane and some co-workers even feared me. There was a clerk in that office. When I mimicked his voice in a show, my co-workers took notice of my art and started appreciating me.

Anuradha SenGupta: From where did you get the title ‘Lever’? Why are you so attached to this title?

Johnny Lever: I copied some officers at the Hindustan Lever function longtime back. I presented an item based upon them. They were all so enthralled by the item that without feeling even a bit offended they made an announcement that I would be called ‘Lever’ from now on. I got a name and it got carried forward as my own brand.

Anuradha SenGupta: When you do shows, how do you prepare yourself? Do you start with observing others?

Johnny Lever: Observation is important in every walk of life. As far as mimicry is concerned, observation is the very base that supports this whole art. Actors get support from various sources, but mimicry artists have to create the entire content by observing.

Anuradha SenGupta: You make people smile with your art. What makes you smile?

Johnny Lever: Mujhe aap hasati hain. (People like you, who are there to appreciate me make me smile.)

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As Johnny gets into his Sanjeev Kumar get up, he admits that impersonations are the core of comedy. But to succeed, they have to go beyond then that. The scripts need to weave current issues and concerns in order to connect with the viewers. While, he is still one of the main comedians in the Hindi cinema today, it’s getting a lot more competitive out there.

Anuradha SenGupta: When you attend wedding functions and other such gatherings, do you get perturbed by people asking you to perform funny bits for them?

Johnny Lever: Oh yes, I have been mobbed by people at functions many a times who ask me to perform something for them, or ask me to tell a joke and things like that. I ask them a simple question: "Had you met Sachin Tendulkar in this function, would you hand over a bat to him and ask him to hit a six? Isn’t it insane to do that? Then why ask me to perform? "

Sometimes the funny mood sets in on it’s own. People love my comedy and start associating me with it even in real life. You become almost like a public property. As you become more and popular with the masses, you learn to live with it.

Anuradha SenGupta: The profession that you chose, was very different from what your parents had expected you to chose. Was it very difficult for you to pursue this initially?

Johnny Lever: Yes, my father used to come and hit me whenever I would perform. I remember he stood holding a rubber pipe near the stage where I would perform. Sometimes I even ran away leaving my show midway because I feared he would hit me if I were caught. His apprehensions were right in that place. He was worried about my future, as to what I will do in life.

Anuradha SenGupta: We have heard your son just got into college, and he too is extremely talented just like you. Like other star kids follow their parents, do we expect your daughter and son getting into films too?

Johnny Lever: There is no such compulsion from my side. My daughter is a good singer. Yet, I would not ask her to sing for films. There is no need for that.

Anuradha SenGupta: But wouldn’t it be unfair of you to stop them from pursuing their talents?

Johnny Lever: I am not stopping them from pursuing their ambitions. All that I’m saying is that I am not fanatic about making my kids a star in the film industry. If stardom comes naturally to them, it is fine.

But I won’t run around to get my daughter film projects. However, I won’t mind my son becoming a comedian some day. If he would like to get into this profession of making others laugh, I would support him. I respect this profession. We have lived with sorrows all our life. I appreciate someone who can make others laugh.

Anuradha SenGupta: So this art of yours is a gift?

Johnny Lever: Yes, indeed it’s a gift. This art runs in his blood. But I told him that he should complete his graduation first and then get into a profession of his choice. I could not complete my studies due to certain constraints, but I won’t let that happen to my children.

Anuradha SenGupta: You have achieved more or less everything in life money, fame, freedom, everything. Yet you lament having not been able to complete your studies. Why is that?

Johnny Lever: My parents could not give me proper education due to financial constraints. But I am capable of giving quality education to my children, and I will give them full chance to pursue highest level of studies.

I understand the importance of education more than anything else in this world. Even highly educated people respect and recognise me for my talent overlooking the fact that I am not educated at all. But that is my luck.

It can’t happen all the time. You can’t ensure that your luck or talent will support you all the time. Had I been educated, I can bet on it that I would have achieved 15 years ago, what I have achieved now.

Anuradha SenGupta: Today, there are numerous opportunities and more and more avenues opening up. But the other side of the coin is that there are too many people who are just randomly trying their luck in the industry?

Johnny Lever: Yes, there are people who just come and claim that "I have the talent." That is a very big problem. Everyone cannot be that super talented. Unfortunately there is no one to even give these people a true picture.

Anuradha SenGupta: But who told you that you are talented? Wasn’t it your self-belief that led you to success?

Johnny Lever: I will tell you how this works. When you get a positive feedback initially, you get the motivation to carry that further.

But people, who are not getting any response, are living in a fool’s paradise thinking that some day their luck will take them through.

How can anyone become successful who he does not even have the flair or the requisite level of talent? This is like walking a path blindfolded. You cannot excel if you don’t have it in you. There was a time when one could survive even doing shoddy work. But it’s not so now. Today you have to be an expert to even expect that work will be offered to you.

Anuradha SenGupta: There was a time when comedians had a strong role in every film. Like Mehmood, one of the greatest comedians of his times played comic role in several films.

Kishore Kumar used to make his own films and play the lead role as a comedian. Are these things of gone away with the past? Today even mainstream actors are doing comic roles. Do you think that the role of a comedian has been cut short with time?

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Johnny Lever: No I don’t think so. Things change with time. More and more films are being made today. It’s true that the kind of roles Mahmood ji, Kishore da, Keshto Mukherjee, Johnny Walker played no longer exist now. But I have played some important roles, which were almost like lead roles stretched out parallel with the role of the hero. Like Baazigar, Karan Arjun are those few roles which have been landmark in my career.

I salute Keshto Mukherje for all the memorable roles that he played. May be some time in future, I might think of making a film and playing lead in it.

Anuradha SenGupta: What kind of film would it be?

Johnny Lever: A comedy film for sure, full of entertainment. Charlie Chaplin has been my idol. You pick up any piece from any of his films and you will find there is some message in it.

Anuradha SenGupta: All films of Charlie Chaplin that I have seen, have a thin line between tragedy and comedy. You might laugh your heart out seeing them, and at a second’s instance you might cry as well.

Johnny Lever: Yes that is true. I saw The Great Dictator year’s ago and got inspired by it. I created a small skit based on Mumbai riots, which remains comic throughout and in the end surfaces the tragic and more intense message underlying in it.

I have done shows in India and abroad. However, I found most typical viewers in Gujarat. These people are mostly businessmen who after spending entire day in their shop look out for some entertainment in the evening. These people used to watch my stage shows with their families and enjoyed them with great passion.

Anuradha SenGupta: What about Bengali viewers?

Johnny Lever: Bengalis are almost crazy about my work. They sit for hours watching my show. Even if the show stretches for six hours, they would still be asking for more.

Anuradha SenGupta: You have mentioned about Gujarati, Hindi and Bengali viewers. But you didn’t say a word about Telegu.

Johnny Lever: I never did any shows in Telegu. Though I did shows in Andhra, Vizag and Hyderabad, people who would come here were mostly Gujaratis and Marwadis. People feel proud of the fact that I am from Andhra. However, there are few Telegu people who knew Hindi.

Anuradha SenGupta: What is the funniest thing about us Indian?

Johnny Lever: Someone has said that most people in this world are fools. I feel Indians are emotional fools. That includes you and me too. My wife sheds tears watching daily soaps. I laugh on her.

Anuradha SenGupta: So the world is made of fools and we are all emotional fools.

Johnny Lever: Yes indeed. Indians are innocent and emotional. That is why we characters are able to fool people with our acts. Had we not been fools, Mughals and Britishers would not have ruled us over for years.

Anuradha SenGupta: You have not been so religious as you are now. How did your faith become stronger?

Johnny Lever: It has been because of my son. My son was detected a tumour. Doctors said that he is critical. Even his operation became unsuccessful due to some problems. His veins were cluttered and doctors even said he might get paralysed if they try to remove the tumour.

Yet he survived and became all right. I consider that a miracle. Everyone, including doctors had given up all hopes on him. I took him to America where one church father asked me to pray for him in the church.

He said in a forceful manner, that god would heal him. I felt as if Jesus Christ is speaking through him. We got him operated, and he survived. That is a miracle.

Anuradha SenGupta: Was that the most crucial and painful period in your life?

Johnny Lever: Yes, indeed. I faced pains when I was struggling to become an actor. But this was more painful than anything else I had faced ever in my life. I am a strong man, and I hardly fear anything in life.

But if something had happened to my only son, I would have perhaps left comedy forever. My nerves that would have paralysed and perhaps I would have lost all capability to laugh.

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Anuradha SenGupta: Have you set limits for yourself that this is where I need to stop ridiculing things. Is there something for which you say ‘this is not funny’?

Johnny Lever: Yes, you have to set your limits. You cannot ridicule religious sentiment of people. However, it is not so in foreign countries. Even if you are making fun of the president, people appreciate.

Anuradha SenGupta: Do you think such freedom be allowed in our country as well?

Johnny Lever: Yes indeed. And I think that time has come when people are ready to take in a healthy spirit, something that means no harm to anyone than to just to just evoke laughter.

Anuradha SenGupta: We hope that you continue to make people laugh. Because if you look around there are lot of things to cry about. By making others laugh you help them forget their sorrows.

Johnny Lever: Thank you too. I would continue to make people laugh; I plan to make comedy movies to carry forward this purpose. I will continue to make people laugh as long as I live.