Piyush Mishra: Cannot write a Munni Badnam…

Dayra har bar banata hoon zindagi ke liye, lakeere wahin reh jaati hai, main khisak jata hoon…

Poet, scriptwriter, music director, singer and actor, Piyush Mishra wears many hats. One of these avatars could be an incarnation from his past life, one that he feels has a connection with the desert state. In the city — one of his many visits to what feels like his past life home —  to perform at the cultural event, Arzoo on Friday, he reiterated his views on his Rajasthan connect and spoke about the current generation of actors, the kind of lyrics trending these days and more…

Can never write the songs trending today

The Keh Ke Lunga and Aaja Nachle lyricist believes that the level of songs that are being written these days has gone down. “There are orchestras that only play Kishore Kumar, Mohammad Rafi and Lata ji, not the songs trending today. There used to be depth in lyrics. Now, songs are just made up of compressed words. I am not saying that those are bad — Sheela ki Jawani, Munni Badnam were hits, but it’s just that I cannot write them ever,” he expressed. 

‘I think I was born here’

 “Whenever I come to Rajasthan, I have deja vu. I think I was born here in one of my past births. Main jab yahan galiyon mein dekhta hoon, mujhe woh talwaron ki awaaz si sunai deti hai (when I look into the streets here, I hear swords clanging),” Mishra shared with AFTERhrs, ahead of his performance at Aarzoo on Friday evening. “A long time ago, I had visited the Amber Fort and still remember how I felt. I strongly believe in reincarnation,” he added.

Talent doesn’t require nepotism

The multi-talented artist believes that the film industry suffers from nepotism. “Of course nepotism exists, but it can never harm those who have talent. Manoj Vajpayee, Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui… even me, we are not affected by nepotism. Ek baap bete ko ek bar hi toh launch karega bar bar thodi, talent hoga to chalega (A father can launch his son only once… he will work if he has talent). I don’t think so people should be affected by it,” he opined.  

Best actor: Ranbir

Mishra has worked in 3 films with Ranbir Kapoor and is also doing a cameo in his upcoming film, Sanju. “Ranbir Kapoor is the best actor of this generation. He is a brutally honest person; he will say things on your face, whether you like it or not. With the way he acts and reacts, I am sure he will be the future Amitabh Bachchan,” said the actor, whose next film Happy Bhaag Jaegi 2 releases in August. 

Happy not to work with Anurag 

While he has done a number of films with the critically-acclaimed filmmaker, Anurag Kashyap, Mishra isn’t happy working with him anymore. “Anurag Kashyap is a nice person. Though I don’t like the kind of films he makes, but I like his attitude. That man has brought some serious changes in the industry,” asserted Mishra. “I have done some great films with him, including Gangs of Wasseypur. But as of now, I am happy that I am not working with him as I don’t like films with too much much violence and sex,” he explained.  

Translating real life into words

The writer says he draws inspiration from surroundings for his writing. “I write what I see around me; things that are beyond our control. I like writing because this way, I can put my feelings into words. I can express whatever I feel about my surroundings. I wrote a poem that was a narration by a five-year-old girl to a rapist,” he shared. “Currently, I am writing a story about 1947, which isn’t just about facts, but my imagination too,” he added.

No regrets

The multi-talented actor, who entered Bollywood at the age of 40 and received recognition after Gulal, never felt that he made a late debut. “When I came out of the National School of Drama, I didn’t have any experience; I was naive at that time, though I felt like I know everything (laughs). I don’t know what I would have done if I started working right then,” he said.

A Leftist no more

Earlier a Leftist, Mishra now has lost faith in all political parties. “I never trusted Congress, but I have lost all hopes from PM Narendra Modi too. Initially, I thought Kejriwal was doing fine but now I don't even want to support him. I am still looking for someone whom I can vote for,” said the actor.