Jaspal Bhatti has come a long way since his almost-iconic show Ulta Pulta. He’s busy with his new programme, Dhaba Junction on SABe TV. That is when he is not organising mock protests with cannons to counter Pravin Togadia’s trishuls. We began our lunch with some freshly-baked papads which came with that delicious mint chutney and raw onions: enough to slow any satirical venture. I began by sipping some Jal Jeera trying to wash down the effects of a hangover whereas Jaspal ordered lassi since he had just driven down from Chandigarh and couldn’t bear to snap links with his Punjabi heritage!
In between deboning the remarkable burra kababs and digging into some pudina paranthas, I observed Jaspal’s eyes light up at the sight of Bukhara’s most famous offering: Dal Bukhara adequately massaged with dollops of ghee.
"In our country, if you are too serious you are not taken seriously enough," said Jaspal wiping the remnants of ghee from his acerbic lips. "Which is why I believe if you can say something in a manner which is funny, then both your message as well as the action you seek get sorted out better." Jaspal should know. I have seen him do the real-life Rajni on many occasions and he always manages to get the media to sit up and take notice. "But it is films that I now wish to do provided someone is willing to finance them," he said ruefully.
I was still reeling under the magnificent taste of the chicken tikkas that had shown up when in between mouthfuls I asked: "Do you like the fact that when people see you they start laughing! How difficult is it for you to be serious?" "Basically I am a very serious person but extremely cynical. Cynical in a nice way. A gentle cynic," he says. I decided that this phrase was too dexterous for me to comprehend especially at a hearty time such as this, which is why I chose the easier way out, and settled down with my kulfi. Jaspal followed suit. It was an afternoon well spent—lots of laughter and lots of great food. Perhaps it does pay to be a cynic afterall.
