Jaaved Jaaferi: People tend to categorise you in some way, and it’s frustrating!

Hosting, dancing, acting — Jaaved Jaaferi has been entertaining us for more than three decades now. He talks about his willingness to experiment with roles, and how he ‘danced’ his way into Bollywood.

Jaaved Jaaferi’s comic roles in films such as Salaam Namaste (2005), Singh is Kinng (2008), and the Dhamaal franchise are some of his most loved performances. While the actor is grateful for the appreciation the light-hearted roles have got him, he’s not a fan of its by-product — being typecast.

Jaaved Jaaferi will be seen next in the comedy film Total Dhamaal. (Yogen Shah)

“The problem is that whatever works and becomes successful, people begin associating you with that. If your comedy is successful, then comedy, same with action. People tend to categorise you in some way, and it’s frustrating why people don’t look beyond that. You’re not just one kind of an actor,” he argues.

However, Jafferi has somewhat managed to escape getting stereotyped, thanks to his willingness to experiment. He played the antagonist in Besharam (2013) and Bang Bang! (2014). Which kind of roles does he enjoy the most? “Anything that’s challenging. I don’t distinguish between roles, whether it was Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India (1995), or Boom (2003). I also enjoyed Fire (1996) and liked Besharam.”

Besharam and Boom, both were not successful at the box-office, but Jafferi isn’t much affected by how a film fares. “Enjoyment is not dependent on success of a film. I am not affected by the success or failure of a film. If it works, you are glad, but it’s the satisfaction as an actor that matters,” he says.

Well, Jaaved Jafferi fans are only happy that happened!

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