Gaurav Gera: Didn’t pretend to know what focaccia is

Gaurav Gera

It wasn't the lack of opportunities that pushed him to create his own content. Instead, it was Gaurav Gera's desire to keep the creative juices flowing that led to the creation of several quirky characters - from Chutki to Shopkeeper to Billi Maasi. Now, after almost a two-year hiatus, the actor-comedian is back on the idiot box with Zee Café's Chef vs Fridge. In a candid chat with mid-day, he discusses how he learnt new dishes through the cooking show, and how his viral videos have helped him stay relevant.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

Will any of your popular characters make an appearance on Chef vs Fridge?
There will be references to [Chutki and her brother Chutku] by way of voices, but they won't [appear] on the show. [We avoided mixing the two worlds] because it didn't seem like a requirement for the show. It is about cooking and the contestants, not about the host.

What is your relationship with food?
I am a basic vegetarian cook. A lot of it is self-learned, and I figured out some dishes after calling up my mother and a close friend. During the initial lockdown, I tried experimenting with food. Now, I have a domestic help who cooks beautifully. So, I don't venture much into the kitchen. I believe cooking is an art that needs to be appreciated. Eating without a word of praise is simply wrong.

What makes you a good fit for the culinary show?
I am like any aam aadmi with a middle-class thought process. If I don't know what focaccia is, I will not pretend [to know it]; I will ask. I learned a lot from this show. I was exposed to some fancy dishes, ingredients, and terminology, like ‘gastronomical'. I found it difficult to say ‘culinary' and kept asking why we can't just call it cooking.

You've been in the industry for long. How did you manage to stay relevant?
I embraced technology and stayed updated with all the new apps. I learned editing long ago, after viewing hours of tutorials. You must make an effort, and stay updated about new technology [pertaining to your field].

Did the need to create your own characters arise from the lack of interesting roles?
During Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, I would tell my producer that besides playing Nandu, I want to play the guard in the background even if I didn't have lines. I always had the desire to play multiple characters; one is not enough. I enjoy becoming someone else completely. If I am playing an old man, I want to alter my body language, voice, and mannerisms to mimic that. This isn't possible when you are doing a fiction show. I am not blaming [the makers]. So, I pushed my boundaries and made videos to launch myself.

Is it difficult to monetise such content?
I believe in doing the work; money will eventually follow. I have been able to survive without fiction shows or films. I generate revenue from [my videos]. That is why I am choosy about my projects and rarely indulge in too many things at the same time. I take up work that can be shot in a start-to-finish schedule. If this show needed me to dedicate two years, I wouldn't have [come on board].