Anytime is good for political satire: Shekhar Suman

Anytime is good for political satire, according to actor-director Shekhar Suman, who had become a household name in the 1990s with his television shows like "Movers and Shakers" and "Poll Khol" that took a dig on politics among other social issues.
Shekhar, considered the pioneer of political satire on Indian television and performed in a play "Ek Mulaqaat" staged here recently in the national capital, says one can find a lot of issues, today as in the days gone by, that can add fodder to the craft.
"It's always a great time for political satire. But, then in late 90s there was a time when I had two great characters (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee sahab and Lalu Prasad Yadav. Both diametrically opposite at different spectrums but were interesting characters. So I consider it was the most appropriate time, the ideal time for doing political satire. Even today there is so much to talk about. But as I said it becomes a full time job. When I start doing it I have to get completely into it - writing and doing it," says Suman.

"I remember during 'Movers and Shakers' people would meet me at the airport and be surprised that nobody shot me yet for for the kind of stuff that I talked about?' I got away with blue murder! But I guess people were more tolerant then and probably they had a better sense of humour," says Suman, who had interviewed and derided many celebrities including politicians with his wit in his late-night talk show,
Having donned many hats including that of an actor, film director, theatre artiste, singer, politician and TV, the senior actor, however, is not keen on reviving his popular image of a political satirist because he does not want to repeat himself.

"Bas bas wahi to problem hai. Yehi to baat hai. Yahin pareshani aa jaati hai dikkat hoti hai. (This is it! This is where the problem arises.) I have been running away. I had a 20 year contract for 'Movers and Shakers' which I left because I thought it was killing the actor in me. Still when people meet me they ask why not? do the show again and I say because I have done that I would probably do it some other time but not now.
"Political satire is a nice craft, it is something that I like. But that is something that I have visited, I did and moved on. I could have done it all my life and made huge amount of money and become iconic just doing that, but I guess I am a wanderer. I cannot be straight jacketed and need to move out quickly. That is why I took up Direction and that has given me immense satisfaction. It's terribly creative," says Suman.