Meet Jameel Khan aka Gullak’s Santosh Mishra, who refused TV and film offers till he married: ‘Never gave auditions or hunted for work’

Jameel Khan details his journey in an exclusive conversation with indianexpress.com. (Photo: Jameel Khan)

You know him as Santosh Mishra from the popular series Gullak or as Asgar Khan from Gangs Of Wasseypur. That's the knack Jameel Khan has -- he has successfully won hearts for his natural acting and the originality that he brings in his characters, but are you aware of his journey? Born in an affluent business family in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi, he grew up with seven siblings and was always sure about how he wanted his life to be. Unlike the struggle stories of several actors where they were forced to compromise, Jameel was clear since the beginning about the kind of projects he wanted to do, and rejected many offers, sometimes offending big directors which had consequences. But, as he says, the heart wants what the heart wants.

In an exclusive conversation with indianexpress.com, Jameel Khan recalls his journey and reveals what made him take up acting, which he thinks was somewhat "accidental" in his case.

"This acting bug had bitten me when I was in school back in Sherwood College in Nainital. I happened to win the Best Actor Award which was named after Sir Geoffrey Kendal, father-in-law of Shashi Kapoor, who used to do Shakespearean theatre across India to encourage theatre and literature. That's how I started to do plays. Somewhere I knew I wanted to do it but I didn't know it would become my career, given I come from a business family and was an above average student. Then I took the IIT-JEE exam, but I couldn't qualify that and it was then the switch happened. I came to Mumbai under the pretext of doing my masters in English literature, which I did complete but started doing professional theatre."

Jameel Khan as Santosh Mishra in Gullak. (Photo: Jameel Khan)

Jameel Khan as Santosh Mishra in Gullak. (Photo: Jameel Khan)

He counts Naseeruddin Shah as his inspiration. "I was lucky to be associated with Naseeruddin Shah's Motley theatre company. So that's where I started and majority of my learning as an actor happened. I kept my eyes and ears open to what Naseer ji had to share; it is from the theatre that everything else took off," he added.

Jameel never wanted to do films, and television was always a big no for him. He was just passionate about theatre, but the money was not enough to survive in a city like Mumbai.

"Theatre doesn't pay much and when you have to fend for yourself, you do look for other avenues to make money. I was lucky, people picked me up from theatre for films. I wasn't interested in doing television so I didn't venture into it. I continued to do a lot of theatre and some voice-overs and dubbing commercials and films started."

Jameel Khan

Jameel Khan was part of Naseeruddin Shah's Motley theatre

company. (Photo: Jameel Khan)

Jameel, who first faced camera for a Pankaj Parashar show, Girdhaari, on BCC, starring Naseeruddin Shah in the role of a detective, recalled how despite not wanting to be on television, he was left with no option.

"There was a show for Doordarshan, it was based on Harishankar Parsai's stories, 'Parsai Kehate Hain', which Kundan Shah directed. It was a commercial program. He too saw me in a play and that's why he was hellbent on casting me. For me television was a strict no, so I turned down the offer. I said no to an assistant director who called me; I told him 'Yaar mai TV karta nahi hu, aur mai Kundan ji ko mooh pe mana kardu toh acha nahi lagega (I don't do TV and if I say no to Kundan ji, it will not look good), he is a senior and respected director.'"

Jameel decided to quote a whopping fees to get out of the situation. After a call from Shah, disinterested Jameel went to meet the director, heard the script and was still adamant on not taking up a television show.

"He (Shah) said 'I am not pressurising you but please give it a thought. Take your time and get back to us.' Later, his AD called me again, so I came up with an idea, I quoted a huge fees so that they say no from their side. The AD was shocked after hearing my demand. 'Sir, itna paisa?', he said. He went and told Shah, and immediately called me that Shah is ready to pay me the money. Now, I had no other excuse, I had to take it up. 'Ab mai bhaag hi nahi sakta tha (I couldn't quit)'. But, I was really fortunate to work with him, he was such a wonderful director. It was fun working with him. I had around 12 episodes."

While Jameel mostly denied TV offers, he struggled financially. During one such instances, the actor recalls taking up an episode in the popular series CID.

Jameel Khan

Jameel Khan's family lives in Mumbai. (Photo: Jameel Khan)

"I was in need of money, so I took up an episode of CID. When you do theatre, you don't make enough money. There are so many bills to take care of, in times like this, I must have taken it up."

Talking about an actor's struggle, Jameel recalled an incident when a director demotivated him, "It is a tough job and which is why 95 per cent people go back. I remember I met a director through a friend, I won't name him, he said, 'Agar tumhe apni izzat pyaari hai toh wapas chale jao', I was like, 'sir, why do you say that?', he was like, "A lot of people like you come here, dhakke khaate hai aur dhakke khaake wapas jab jaate hai toh unke shehron mein log unka mazak udaate hai ki le gaye the hero banne aur zero banke aagaye hai', 'You will suffer a lot, so just think again and return'."

However, after several years, the same director approached Jameel for a role. "I very politely turned down his offer," laughs the Gullak star. Jameel, who was happy living a minimalist life and doing theatre, had to eventually give it up after he decided to tie the knot. "I had to give up on several films due to my theatre commitments. But, I never regretted my decision. It was only after my wedding, I started focusing on taking up more films and eventually left theatre. I had to take care of my wife and eventually children... it has been 15 years since I did theatre." However, Jameel is planning to make his theatre comeback very soon.

Jameel played parts in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Aziz Mirza's Chalte Chalte, Cheeni Kum, Gangs Of Wasseypur, Baby, and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela, among others.

Fortunately, the actor never had to give up on his dreams of being an actor. "People have fantastic stories, 'I slept on platforms, I struggled a lot', and all that drama, I never had all that. With God's blessing, I have had a beautiful childhood and I always had job, I never slept hungry or was deprived of a roof over my head. I had very minimal necessities. I did what I liked. Life is to have fun, why go into depression? I never went hunting for work. I always chose from the ones that were coming my way. Sometimes I took up random films and projects only if I was in dire need of money," he added.

It was after his 2003-2004 plays Manto among others that people started to take notice of him.

"Previously, we needed producers and directors. We used to ask for jobs and not paid much. But, that has changed for me now. Another difference is that, now when I turn down a role, they don't get offended. Earlier, when I used to turn them down, they would feel quite offended. They used to be like, 'How dare you, don't you know I am a respected director?' I used to be like, 'Are bhai, if I don't like the role, give me the choice to turn it down. It's your choice to cast me for this role, I to should have a choice where I can turn it down if I don't want to take it up. Why are you offended?'"

Similarly, Jameel never gave any auditions for the roles he has done so far. "If someone asked me to give an audition, I used to ask them, 'have you taken an audition of the stars you have cast in your film? If they haven't given auditions, I won't either. Take their auditions too, if you want mine."

Jameel was also skeptical about signing Gullak, but is glad that he did. "I was also skeptical about it because it is more or less like television and I have never been keen about television. But, thankfully they insisted and I did it. So, I had finished a shoot of a different project, reached the location and shot the first season in just 15 days and left immediately for another shoot."

Gullak gave Jameel Khan a whole new identity. Now, four seasons down, the character of Santosh Mishra didn't only bring him lots of fame but also earned him two awards. All after being in the business for over two decades.

Talking about what he learnt from his journey so far, Jameel said, "It is extremely important to have conviction and faith in yourself. If you have it in you, you will succeed. It might take some time, so stay patient. Patience is the greatest virtue. Be honest and truthful. Don't corrupt your craft. Be organic. And treat every work and day like a beginner. Don't be adamant on wanting to play just the hero part."

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