Acting is in my DNA: Satish Kaushik

Thirty years in the film industry as a writer, director, producer and actor has earned Satish Kaushik the tag of a veteran. And now, after a hiatus of 16 years, Kaushik finds his way back to the small screen as Jasbir Walia, the father of Sumit Walia in the adaptation of the cult hit show Everybody Loves Raymond. He talks about his love for acting and more.

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Love for acting

Acting is in my DNA and no matter what new route I choose to explore, my passion takes me back to acting. This passion has seen me journey through every medium, be it theatre, television or films. Sumit Sambhal Lega, which is the Indian adaptation of Everyone Loves Raymond, came to me at a time when Indian television was undergoing a change and the audiences were willing to try giving new formats and genres a chance.

Playing Jasbir Walia

Jasbir Walia as a character threw me a challenge. How was I to create the same familiarity as Frank, the father of Raymond from the original and yet bring in my own nuances? The actor in me was intrigued. Jasbir Walia takes me back to my Delhi days. Jasbir, a person who fancies himself a man of all seasons, has spent his life in the lanes of old Delhi. Now, he finds himself with his family living in the posh Greater Kailash area of Delhi. He is an obnoxious person who spends his days picking on his sons, fighting with his wife, creating unrest in the neighbourhood and being a self-opinionated human being in general. But he is also a very lovable person who under the façade of being this difficult man has his own gentle equations with each member of the Walia family and often lands up saving the day. On the sets we joked about how Jasbir Walia came close to being a second mother-in-law.

TV and more

I have a full slate coming up. Apart from Sumit Sambhal Lega, I also have films such as Wedding Pullav, Udhta Punjab and my British film, Promise Dad, which is releasing soon. I’m in the process of reading other scripts and finalising which next film I’m going to take on as an actor next. That apart, I’m going to be donning the director’s hat once again with a film which we will shortly announce. So no, it’s not television all the way for me. However, it’s challenging and good work, in whatever medium it comes, holds my interest.