Pankaj Sudhir Mishra, director of Waah Waah Kya Baat Hai, on SAB TV, is the one who works hard behind every shayari (couplet) on which viewers applaud. In fact, he is the one who is trying to bring the street play essence on television with this show. Side-by-side, he also makes us laugh by his takes in Comedy Circus on Sony Entertainment Television. Tellychakkar.com troops down to the sets of Waah Waah Kya Baat Hai and corners Mishra during a breather for a snappy interview. Excerpts: Tell us something about yourself? Having born in Chhattisgarh, I finished my education there. It must be about 5 to 6 years that I am here in Mumbai to learn and cherish my dream in the field of direction. Since I was young, I had the passion for direction; my main interest though was in non-fictional shows than fiction drama. In short, you can say that I am more of a theatre person and love to bring the essence of theatre on television. So far, I have been very fortunate with my career, as I got to do whatever I wished for. Your work profile? I started my career first by assisting a few directors but later started direction on my own. In that matter, I have been very fortunate enough that within 6 days of my arrival in Mumbai, I started assisting. I learnt a lot while assisting Satyajit Bhatkal in Satyamev Jayate (Star Plus) which was like a mini movie with 30 episodes. This encouraged me to become an independent director rather than assisting. In all, I have directed numerous shows like Comedy Circus, Ladies Special, Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala, Safar Filmy Comedy Ka, Nautanki and Ghar Aaja Pardesi. Presently, I am working on Waah Waah Kya Baat Hai for SAB TV along with Comedy Circus for Sony Entertainment Television. Tell us of your experience while assisting Satyajit Bhatkal? (smiles) Well it’s a long time now. With the passage of time, we have become very good friends. In fact, he is the one who helped me explore the talent in me and even encouraged me to become a director. I have also worked with him in 4 episodes of Aamir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate. Since he is a very good friend of Aamir, I also got to work in the show as his assistant. As a director what is your take on television? For me, television is beyond what it is being portrayed on it. Firstly the funda of Entertainment, Entertainment and Entertainment does not work on television. This works for films but for television, since the eyeballs involved are more, you need to keep in mind audience of every age who are watching your show. Television is Nukkad Natak (street play) of the electronic media; it’s a great medium. I don’t understand the thinking that intelligent concepts do not work on television. Audiences are our bread winners and underestimating their thinking is beyond my personal take as a director. What’s your working pattern on the sets? Basically, I look or feel the environment around. Then I check the set and costumes of every artiste. Then I have a look at the topic of the particular episode that is to be shot and try and make changes if there is a chance accordingly. How is a comedy show different from a daily soap? (pauses) Well, it very easy. While daily soaps put you into thoughts, comedy makes you forget your trouble. For e.g.:- A Sunny Leone show on television will definitely be very awkward for family members to discuss about. On the other hand, daily soaps build up aggression and frustration among viewers because technically such things do not happen in any family. Comedy shows, on the other hand, are something which makes the whole family sit together and enjoy. That is what is very important for me as director that my show is watched by audience of all ages. Were you ever scared that a show like Wah Wah Kya Baat Hai will not work on television? No, not for a single moment. I knew that though the concept was innovative and different; it didn’t pull me back from doing it. I knew it from the very beginning that people will not like it in first place but later they will start loving the concept. What would you like to direct in future? I would love to bring back the Malgudi Days with a spice of the present contemporary style with a spice of some courtroom drama. What about your hobbies? I love painting because that helps me create a beautiful canvass with your thinking which in turn also helps my profession. What would your advice be for aspiring directors? As even I am new, I would only tell new entrants to work hard be loyal towards you work and try to explore yourself first then your work. Your future plans? I want to make more comedy drama on Television and I want to stick to unscripted shows like Comedy Circus.