‘I can laugh at myself’: Sumona Chakravarti

Best known as Bittu Sharma’s wife on Comedy Nights With Kapil, Sumona Chakravarti believes she can laugh at herself. After all, most jokes on the show are directed either towards her family (in the show) or her features that her onscreen husband thinks aren’t too flattering. She says, “I’ve been like that even in school and college. I can take a joke and laugh at myself. I don’t believe in taking life too seriously when I have the option of laughing my way through it.

 

I personally think that I am a decent looking person and Kapil’s comments on my lips or looks in general don’t make me insecure; it’s all in good humour. In fact, during a lot of our live events, men walk up to Kapil and tell him that he has a good looking (onscreen) wife and that if he doesn’t like her, they’ll be happy to marry her.” Speaking about why the role is special to her, she says, “I had worked with Kapil on Comedy Circus and when he approached me for the part, he said, ‘I can’t see anyone else but you playing it’. I could not say no to him and the format of the show was also exciting.”

 

There have also been rumours doing the rounds that Sumona avoids talking to other actors of the show and only interacts with Kapil. Sumona says, “I didn’t even know about this until someone posted it on my Twitter account. I found it bizarre. We actors shoot for 15-18 hours a day, so when we do get some free time, we go to our own rooms and take a nap or play games on our laptop.

 

Roz kitni masti kar sakte hai? (How much fun can you have every day?) And, just because I’m not chatting or joking with the cast all the time, doesn’t mean I don’t get along.” We ask Sumona how much of the show’s content is impromptu and how much is rehearsed. She says, “We don’t end up rehearsing at all! Besides, there’s a new celebrity guest on every episode, so you do not know how each of them will react. Our actions are based on how every actor reacts to our dialogues. You just cannot be prepared in advance. Also, with Kapil, you never know what he will do or say. Even if we manage to rehearse, Kapil may change the dialogue right before the guest appears.”

 

What also stands out about Sumona is her chic style on the show. The credit, she says, goes entirely to her stylist. “My stylist Neeta works really hard on my look in each episode. In fact, there are a lot of women on social networking sites who ask me where they can find the saris that I wear on the show. I have also had men asking me where they can pick up similar saris for their wives.

 

Whenever Neeta goes shopping for me, she makes it a point to keep me informed about what she’s picking up, but most of the time whatever she picks suits me well. I even like her choice in accessories. As for the hair and make up, I offer my suggestions and we try to keep the look young.” Sumona is also part of the daily soap Bade Achche Lagte Hai. “I don’t shoot regularly for it, so it’s not that hectic. Recently I had a health scare after which I decided to cut down on work. I will no longer skip meals and naps. Health is my priority, even if it means giving up some good work.”