After a year of embarrassing controversies and setbacks, Kapil Sharma is back.

Following the release of his movie - Firangi, he is planning to push the envelope further when he returns to the small-screen with his television show. Firangi will feature Kapil as an innocent villager grappling with the Colonial Raj. Kapil has discussed his career plans and some personal decisions in an interview.

Excerpts:

Kapil, Firangi is quite a departure from your first film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon and from your image as a stand-up comic?

You liked it? Thanks. My friend Rajiev Dhingra, who directed Firangi sat with me... We exchanged ideas on what we would do together. We decided we would do a period film for sure. But we didn't want to do the usual 'evil colonisers and innocent peasants' movie. We wanted to do a fresh take on the 'Raj'. I think we succeeded in doing that.

Yes, Rajiev has not only ensured that your fans get what they want from your innocence, but he has also brought a new avatar from your comicality.

Haan, mera character bholepann mein hi bahut kuch kar jaata hai (My character does a lot of things without knowing the repercussions). I think Rajiev knows me better than almost anyone else. We've been friends for years. Kai baar aisa hota hai ki kuch log itne kareeb hote hain ke woh aapko khud se behtar jaane hain (Some people are so close to you that they know you better than you know yourself).

Rajiev knows me well enough and is aware of what I can do and can't do.  Sometimes I would go over-the-top. But he would bring me back to normalcy. He knew the audience wanted to see me playing a normal guy who can make others laugh.

Do you like pushing the envelope?

It will be boring for me and the audience if I don't. That's why I am planning a radical change in The Kapil Sharma Show. As far as feature films go, I will try to do something different each time. I already have an idea for my next film. The audience is open to all kinds of experiences now. I saw Newton. It was so different yet successful.

The film is too long, though?

Oh, you will be surprised at how much we left out!

Have your industry friends such as Shah Rukh Khan or Akshay Kumar seen Firangi ?

Not yet. We had a screening for the cast and crew and thier family on Thursday. They will say only nice things. Very often, we actors and entertainers get cut off from reality because we surround ourselves with yes-men. It's very important to listen to people who don't flatter you and who correct you when you're wrong. Rajiev Dhingra is one such friend. He tells when I go wrong.

(Source: IANS)