Shopkeeepaaa, cake dena... Hanji Benji

GAURAV GERA became a household name when he played the role of Nandu in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin.

But I've known him ever since he was a kid. You see, we went to the same school... together. He was this shy, quiet, innocent...

Ahh!!! How I wish I could boast like that. But the truth is, I too noticed him for the first time when I started watching JJKN.

Btw, have you seen Gaurav and Mona's latest stint as Nandu and Jassi? Check this out -

Gaurav & Mona revive JJKN days as Shopkeeper & Chutki

There's this  one scene in JJKN which is very close to my heart. Even today I tear up whenever I watch it:

I remember thinking, when I first saw this scene - Jassi is so damn lucky to have Nandu. I wish I had a friend like him...

Sometimes wishes do come true...

Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin ended in 2006. So did Gaurav's role as Nandu.

I heard of him again in 2009.  Making another splash. This time it was not on TV. But on facebook. His were the statuses that got 1000s of likes and 100s of comments. Seriously??? I turned up my nose as I read them. No way was I going to comment on THAT!

Two days later I was commenting on every single status. Not once, but several times. Such is the Gera pull.

Here's a taster of what some of his statuses used to be like -

Gaurav Gera's Gems

Couple of years later, another wave. It was a music video this time. When I told him after ten minutes of its release that the video had already got hundreds of views, he humbly replied - "Nah, that can't be mine. Must be that other video which was released recently." And he went back to his shooting. Half an hour later the video had tens and thousands of views. The rest is history.

He did it again this year. But this time it wasn't a splash or a wave. It was a flood. Nay, it was a bloody tsunami.

Let me start at the very beginning. Early this year, owing to some deadlines, I went off social media for 3 months. When I logged back in, I was gobsmacked. There was an avalanche of Gaurav's videos everywhere. His name as well as the characters he had created - Chutki and Shopkeeper, were splashed all over the social media, radio, television. Hundreds of comments, thousands of likes, zillions of views. Interviews in umpteen newspapers and magazines like India Today and Times of India. Dubsmash videos by the likes of Akshay Kumar, Vivek Oberoi, Jacqueline Fernandez. People the world over, who didn't understand a word of Hindi were shouting - Hanji Benji!

Hein??? I rubbed my eyes. Had I been away for just 3 months or had I woken up after 20 years like Rip Van Winkle?

Suyyash, Chutki aur Hansa

Most actors will agree that it is more difficult to make people laugh than cry. I remember watching a short film as a kid. There's this monkey trying desperately to make his audience laugh. He does all sorts of antics, clowns around, hangs upside down. Nothing. Just a vapid expression on all the faces. Then he starts hurting himself. The more he bleeds, the more hysterical the laughter.

That's how difficult it is to make your viewers laugh.

And to make them laugh globally like Gaurav has done, is no mean feat. The comic timing, the expressions, the nuances, have got to be bang on. Top that with sweat, blood and guts. Yes, guts - loads of it. After all, how many men are there who have the confidence to play the role of a woman like Chutki? Or to play it so convincingly and effortlessly that people forget that the actor is actually a guy?

That's not all. Chutki is just one of a range of characters in Gaurav's videos. There's the famous shopkeeper who seems to have the biggest shop in the world as it sells everything under the sun, then there's his son, his green assistant, Chutki's brother Chutku, her mom and her boyfriend Suyyash. Not only does Gaurav play all the other characters as well, but also writes the scripts of all the videos himself.

VERSATILITY, thy name is GAURAV!

If there's one thing that's more amazing than his acting calibre, videos and unique characters, it is his ability to connect with people the world over. His fans are everywhere - in Dubai, in East Africa, even in Jhumri Talaiya.  For some his videos are stress-busting elixir; others claim his humour touches their soul. But they all agree, he has a very happy vibe about him and hope his humour will continue to linger on for years to come.

So guys, if you haven't already, check out the following link and you'll understand what I'm talking about -

Gaurav Gera YouTube Channel

And as this king of madness, creativity and originality celebrates his birthday this week, here's wishing him a very Happy Birthday.

Thank you Gaurav, for coming into our lives. Thank you for all the LOL and ROFL moments. Thank you for being you. Keep rocking. Keep creating storms. Above all,  stay grounded always. Coz that's your most endearing quality :)

RELATED POSTS:

Jassi Jaisi koi Nahin - 12 Years on

Keep smiling friends. Keep ROFLing. Life is Beautiful :)

Yaadon mein kitni dafa... Na Bole Tum Revisited

After reading my last blog post, a friend asked - "How did you cope after JJKN ended?"

"I swore never to get so attached to another show again," I replied.

I succeeded in doing just that for seven years.

Then NBT happened.

And Mohan Bhatnagar.

Now that Kunal Karan Kapoor's Doli Armaanon Ki is also ending, I took a walk down Juna Mohalla yet again and found myself chuckling as I remembered some of my favourite scenes  from Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha. 

Here's a handful from my long list of favourites:

1. MOTHER'S DAY:

I always crack up whenever I watch this scene. It is from one of the earlier episodes, I think the fourth one. This scene was perfect in setting the tone as well as the dynamics of four main characters, namely Mohan, Megha, Nanhi and Addu, that we would be witnessing in the rest of the episodes to come.


2. THE INFAMOUS AD:

This scene was totally brilliant. The comic timing, the expressions, the dialogue delivery of every single actor in this scene were spot on.


3. FINDING NANHI:

I've watched this scene like a hundred times. The way Mohan emerges from the mist in the soft blue twilight, holding Nanhi as though she's a fragile porcelain doll and the most precious thing on earth - the scene has so much tenderness, warmth and softness that no matter how many times I watch it, it never ceases to touch me.

Btw, did you guys know that in the long shot of this scene, the girl in Kunal's arms wasn't Ashnoor? This is what Kunal says about the scene - "that scene there's a shot where I'm walking in the distance,the long shot...that girl is a duplicate..Nanhi wasn't available due to her studies..but then returned the next day..I love that scene too."


4. KIS HAQ SE:

This scene was my hook, line and sinker moment. No idea what I'm talking about? Check out this post - When Kunal Shrugged


5. THODI SI TOH LIFT KARA DE:

Two people stuck in a lift for one whole hour - BORING. Not so, if the two individuals happen to be Mohan and Megha. In the entire mahaepisode of one whole hour, all that we saw were these two stuck in a lift. And yet there was never a dull moment. Such was the chemistry between Megha and Mohan; the unsurpassable acting of Kunal and Aakanksha and the spell cast by NBT on its audience! Not to forget Mohan's rendition of Kishore Kumar's pyaar maanga hai tumhi se... LOL LOL LOL.

NBT came into our lives when most Indian shows on TV were reeking of foundation and suffocating under heavy jewellery and whisked us off our feet with its simplicity.

SIGH!

Sunn na, why do all good things have to end?

So NBTians and Kunalians, if you were to pick ONE favourite scene from NBT, which one would it be? Do share in the comments below.

And suggestions for future lists, most welcome :)

Keep smiling. Keep ROFLing. Life is Beautiful :)

Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin... 12 Years on

Twelve years ago, I discovered the fascinating world of India Forums.

Twelve years ago,  I was introduced to the joys of online friendships.

And twelve years ago, a girl in a blue salwaar with humungous braces and holding a pink umbrella, grinned her way into my heart.

Yes, it's been exactly twelve years since JASSI JAISI KOI NAHIN went on air on the 1st of September 2003. But in spite of the years, have you been able to forget this show? I haven't and can say even today that JJKN jaisa koi nahin!

So here's my list of JJKN characters that remain even today, inimitable, fresh and unforgettable:

1. JASSI (played by Mona Singh) - She was warm, she was clumsy, she was a nerd. And how we loved her for those very reasons and connected with her instantly. Btw, a treat for Mona fans, coming up in October ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QToFrQQqZ3I

2. ARMAAN SIR (played by Apurva Agnihotri) - If Jassi's here, can Armaan Sir be far behind? Sigh!!! My first ever crush on a fictional character. O Rabba mere, agle janam mohe Armaan Sir ki Jassi hi kijo. But more about him in December ;)

3. RAJ (played by Parmeet Sethi) - What a fine actor he is. Whether it be a serious role as in Dastaan or Armaan's friend with a devil-may-care attitude, he plays it with aplomb. His one liners in JJKN were some of the best dialogues in the show.

4. NANDU (played by Gaurav Gera) - The most loveable geek ever. Yes, he was way cuter than Sheldon and Leonard, I have to admit. More on him, in a couple of weeks. So Gaurav fans, watch this space ;)

Gaurav & Mona revive JJKN days as Shopkeeper & Chutki

5. JASSI'S MUM (played by Surinder Kaur) - I loved her in Nadiya ke Paar and again in JJKN. She reminds me of my mom - soft, warm, huggable.

6. BILLOO PAPAJI (played by Veerendra Saxena) - more than his chemistry with wife and daughter, I loved his chemistry with Nandu.

7. BEBE (played by Uttara Baokar) - She was the grandmother I never had. I believe she's great fun in real life as well - still single and ready to mingle. So don't forget to party with her next time you're in Mumbai.

8. NANDU'S MUM - OMG! She was hilarious. Bossy, dominating Punjabi mom and I totally loved her.

9. MALLIKA (played by Rakshanda Khan) - The moment I think of Mallika, one word springs to mind - classy. She is one classy, stylish young lady. And even though she was the "other woman" in the show, I still couldn't help admire her.

10. PARI (played by Manini Mishra) - Ooo la la! The coquettish batting of long curling eyelashes, the sparkling smile, the sway of those hips - that was what Pari was all about and Manini played the role to the hilt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sIME7j322E

11. MADDY (played by Rajesh Khera) - Famous for playing the Devil in the Onida TV ad prior to this, Rajesh blew us away as Maddy. His dialogue delivery, his mannerisms, his quirky walk were so spot on.

12. CHESTA (played by Monaz Mewawala) - How could I forget Nandu's sweet, bubbly, Guju girlfriend? And even though she was a tad matlabi, we loved  Monaz's cameo nonetheless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjOIuhEkHvk

Lastly, a big thumbs up for Tony and Deeya for this unique show, that touched the hearts of millions and remains even today, one of our favouritest shows ever.

Some good news for those who wish to watch the show again or missed it the first time around - SET Asia has uploaded most of the episodes - so check out their channel on YouTube. 

That's all folks. Do share your memories/ anecdotes/ links of this awesome show. Suggestions for future lists most welcome :)

Keep smiling. Keep ROFLing. Life is Beautiful :)