Mumbai: Winning Comedy Ka Badshah was a defining chapter in Dinesh Soni’s career, but for him, the show’s real legacy lies in two people he met along the way. He also spoke about how he sees himself after years of working as an anchor, actor and comedian all at once.
He said, “There are two people I would especially like to mention here, Mumukshu Mudgal Ji and Raju Srivastava Ji. Sadly, both of them are no longer with us, but their contribution to my journey remains unforgettable.”
“Mumukshu Mudgal Ji selected me right from my audition. He personally worked on the preparation and scripting of the show. His guidance gave me a strong foundation, and I will always remain grateful to him for believing in me at that early stage of my career,” he added. His memories of Raju Srivastava, he said, are just as vivid, built on small gestures that carried enormous weight. He said, “By that time, he had already become a big star, but despite his stature, he was incredibly humble and encouraging.”
“After one of my performances, I went to meet him before he left. Instead of simply saying ‘well done,’ he gave me very specific feedback, what I could improve, what I should try differently, and how I could make my performance stronger,” he added. Those moments of encouragement, he added, didn’t end with a single conversation. He said, “What touched me even more was that later, in several other shows, he introduced me and recommended my name to others.”
“Those gestures may have seemed small to him, but for me, they meant the world. Their guidance, encouragement and faith in me are memories I will always carry, and their names will forever be written in golden letters in the story of my journey,” he added. Having worn the hats of anchor, actor and comedian, he was clear about which identity feels most like home. He said, “If I were to put these three identities in a particular order, I would say: first, I am an anchor, then, I am an actor, and finally, a comedian.”
“Comedy naturally becomes a part of anchoring. And when you are an actor, you cannot restrict yourself to being only a comedy actor. As an actor, you should be able to explore every emotion and every genre, comedy, action, drama, romance, and all the shades of the Navras,” he added.
He summed up his journey in three simple words that capture how each identity found its place. He said, “For me, anchoring came first. That is where my journey began, and it continues to remain at the core of who I am. Then came acting, which allowed me to explore different characters and emotions.”
“And somewhere between these two, the humour naturally found its way in. That is where the comedian in me comes from. So, if I had to define myself in three words, I would say: first, an Anchor. Then, an Actor. And somewhere in between, a Comedian,” Dinesh concluded.
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