Actor and television personality Shekhar Suman has revisited some memorable chapters of his career, including his association with veteran actor Jaya Bachchan. From getting his breakthrough television role in ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’ through Jaya’s production company to working with her on the first live National Awards show, Suman recalled both the rewarding and chaotic experiences they shared. Looking back at the awards ceremony, he candidly described the live broadcast as a “huge disaster”, remembering an electrical failure and technical chaos that unfolded during the telecast.
How Jaya Bachchan brought Shekhar Suman to ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’
Speaking on SCREEN Spotlight, Shekhar Suman recalled that he was initially reluctant to return to television. Having already made his Bollywood debut with ‘Utsav’, he was wary of being associated with TV projects. Suman said that director Aanand Mahendroo eventually approached him with ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’. The actor initially refused, but changed his mind when he learned that Jaya Bachchan was producing the show.“I got a call one day from Aanand Mahendroo, who said he’s making a serial called Dekh Bhai Dekh. I said, ‘No no, I’m not interested in serials.’ Then he said, ‘It’s produced by Jaya Bachchan.’ So, I said, ‘Hold on!’ If Jaya Bachchan is backing it, and it’s an Amitabh Bachchan production, I’d have a look at it,” Suman recalled.
Shekhar Suman praises Jaya Bachchan’s hands-on approach
Suman also remembered how closely Jaya Bachchan was involved with the making of Dekh Bhai Dekh. According to the actor, she was not merely attached to the project as a producer but regularly visited the sets and took an active interest in its development.“Jaya ji‘s ABCL office was just a floor above. She was completely hands on. She’d come on the set and supervise. She took personal interest in it, which was very encouraging to see. She’d laugh her guts out at all kinds of idiosyncrasies we’d do. So ya, happy times,” he said.The sitcom went on to become one of the most remembered television shows of the 1990s and played an important role in Suman’s television career.
Shekhar Suman calls first live National Awards show a ‘huge disaster’
Suman’s association with Jaya Bachchan continued when her company approached him for the first live National Awards show. However, the ambitious broadcast did not go as smoothly as planned.“It was the first time we were going live. It was a huge disaster at the time — there was an electrical failure, and there were abuses going around in the OB (Outside Broadcast) van, which were being broadcast,” he recalled with a laugh.Despite the technical problems, the experience allowed Suman to spend considerable time with the Bachchan family. He remembered meeting Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan in Delhi and participating in long conversations about creative ideas.“But ya, I spent a lot of time with her at the time. Bachchan sahab had just shifted to Gulmohar Park in Delhi. We’d sit at their house and ideate for hours,” Suman added.
Shekhar Suman on the work front
On the work front, Shekhar Suman was most recently seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi’. He also began hosting his own YouTube talk show, ‘Shekhar Tonite’, and has since branched into education with the launch of the Shekhar Suman Film Academy, an acting institute he founded to mentor aspiring actors and storytellers through an intensive, contemporary curriculum.
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