Bollywood beckons for waiting Chir

When we all sat down and wrote Goodness Gracious Me we had no idea it would have the response that it has. But it is weird how people come to view you. The Royal Court recently wrote on a press release that I am a comedian. But although I started as a stand-up comedian in the working men's clubs in Yorkshire, after drama school I got films like Howard's End and Rita, Sue And Bob Too, and into theatre working with Trevor Griffith. I've even appeared in two episodes of Casualty as two different characters, and the Bill as three different characters! My agent says he can't label me, but I like that.

Tanika Gupta's fantastic new play is, in many respects, about the afterlife. The plot is about a family, where Priya, the mother, has just passed away. She's been in this country for about 30 years. She is confronted with her own death, and to help her on the way is The Guide. He's an Indian film star, Dilip Kumar (played by me), the only person she admired and worshipped in her life. Dilip takes her on a journey of three days where she can rectify some of the attachments she has made in the world, and she can have an easier time in the waiting-room. Priya is played by Shabana Azmi. I've never worked with Shabana but obviously I've seen her work in Bollywood. She is like the Vanessa Redgrave of India, an amazing actress, but she has never worked in British theatre before.

I wouldn't like to say Tanika is a new writer because she's been working for eight years and has produced some great plays. But the way she uses Sanskrit writing as well as Shakespearean themes is so brave. It's great to be working on such fresh material.

The Waiting Room