The Jaago Re boy has graduated to films. Avantika Bhuyan looks at how theatre changed Anand Tiwari’s life.
Tiwari first gained recognition with Tata Tea’s Jaago Re commercials where he was seen rousing people to vote. “Election ke din agar aap vote nahi kar rahe ho to aap so rahe ho,” (If you don’t vote on Election Day, you are sleeping) was a campaign meant to differentiate Tata Tea from other brands. Soon after the first commercial was aired, Tiwari was stopped in local trains, on the streets, in the markets and bombarded with questions about the campaign.
His subsequent portrayal of an obsessive stock market trader in The President is Coming cemented his reputation as somebody who could tackle satire, comedy and drama. He has since then starred in out-and-out commercial films such as Udaan, Aisha and Kites. Last year even saw him act in a Hollywood Production called Fair Game. The Naomi Watts and Sean Penn-starrer happened to Tiwari by chance. “I think the Jaago Re campaign drew the attention of a lot of casting directors to me. That’s how I got a chance to audition for Fair Game, and the next thing I knew I was sitting next to Watts in Kuala Lumpur!” he grins.
Tiwari’s first commercial play was Panch-a-tantra in 2003. The Mumbai-boy could have followed in the footsteps of his father and brother and taken up the medical profession but he chose to follow his dream of being an actor and filmmaker. And he stands by this choice as theatre helped him turn his life around. “I am dyslexic and there was a time when I couldn’t read properly. Reading scripts and being on stage helped me improve my reading skills,” he says.
In theatre circles, he is known as a director’s actor. Veteran director Sunil Shanbag who worked with him in the play, Dreams of Taleem, is all praise for his ability to take on challenging roles. “In the play, Anand and another actor had the difficult challenge of playing a gay couple, especially since they weren’t. They were supposed to be deeply in love and committed to each other. Just watching them work on that relationship was a tremendous experience for me as a director,” he says. Tiwari is known for making the most complex of roles accessible to the audience, in a way that it doesn’t become heavy or boring. “In the play that we are doing now, One on One, Tiwari plays three different roles; that itself is a huge challenge. It is such a pleasure watching him on stage. He is a complete team player and is extremely open to suggestions. That makes him an asset to any show,” says Rajit Kapur who has worked in critically acclaimed films such as Suraj ka Satvan Ghoda, Making of the Mahatma and Bose: The Forgotten Hero.
Tiwari looks up to actors like Vinay Pathak and Rajat Kapoor who can switch from theatre to films and back with ease. It is easy to see his comfort level and camaraderie with the two veteran actors who star with him in Jo Dooba... “They have taught me that just like music you need to do riyaaz in acting as well. The more you rehearse – be it for theatre or films – the more you learn,” he says. In Jo Dooba one sees him essay the role of a truck driver’s son who has a stubborn streak in him. It is only after experiencing love and loss that he begins to understand life.
As of now, he wants to take his dreams of being a film maker forward. He is currently assisting Anurag Basu in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Barfee. Tiwari is also fine-tuning a script about urban relationships. “I have shown it to some friends and they have liked it. Let’s see what comes out of it,” he signs off.