Over an acting career spanning more than five decades, he has garnered audiences in theatre, television and cinema, with commercially successful projects like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa to Chak De! India and Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. Yet it is with his middle-class family man’s act as Srinivas Wagle in the 1980s Doordarshan serial Wagle Ki Duniya that Aanjjan Srivastav has cemented his place in people’s hearts. We caught up with Srivastav when he was in Kolkata recently to perform a play at Kala Mandir.

You were in Kolkata recently to stage a play. How was it performing at Kala Mandir?

Aanjjan Srivastav: The play I performed is called Isharo Isharo Mein. I play the role of a marriage counsellor where a husband and wife visits me to get divorced. Once they visit his office, they see my character chopping vegetables. He diverts the clients by asking them about their opinion, nature, how they divide up household chores. Slowly I get to know that his wife is deaf and mute, and their baby boy is also the same. And the story continues. The play is full of comedy and humour.

I have spent my entire life in Kala Mandir. I was born and brought up in Kolkata. I would rehearse in the room above the Kala Mandir building. I have learnt my craft here. It feels really nice to be back. I have come to Kolkata after a long time. I want to do more Bengali films in Kolkata. I miss doing Bengali films here. I am open to doing both web series and cinema.

You will complete nearly five decades in the film industry with over 180 films and 54 years in theatre. Looking back, how do you see your career? Was acting always a passion?

Aanjjan Srivastav: The one word answer to this question is that I am happy. I have done a variety of roles over the years. I have done films in different languages — Hindi, Bhojpuri, Bengali, Telugu.

My passion to become an actor developed after watching Guru Dutt’s films. My mother would make me listen to Shombhu Mitra’s plays on the radio. I was tempted to do plays. My mother always supported and motivated me to do theatre shows and plays. But my father always insisted that I study to become an engineer. I started performing on All India Radio. The first play I performed was Premendra Mitra’s Niruddesh. While doing that, I got an offer to perform in Kala Mandir and I started doing theatre.

You have always been very experimental and diverse with your projects. Have the criteria for choosing roles changed over the years?

Aanjjan Srivastav: Not really. I feel that for a film or any project, the subject is very important. I don’t want to do a film for the sake of it. This has always been my criterion from day one.

The hit Doordarshan serial Wagle Ki Duniya — now airing on Sony SAB — completes almost two decades. What’s the best part of being Srinivas Wagle?

Aanjjan Srivastav: While I was doing Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, I got the proposal of doing Wagle Ki Duniya again. Initially I didn’t want to, but Aatish Kapadia convinced me to do it. The previous Wagle Ki Duniya by RK Laxman, Kundan Shah and Ravi Ojha was a milestone. They have recharacterised the new show. The circumstances and values have changed, but Srinivas Wagle has not changed. Wagle mere nas nas mein chhaya hua hai. I’ve done over 180 films. If I don’t play a negative character, people end up getting a vibe of Wagle. Whenever I play a comedic character, people start thinking of me as Wagle.

What is next for you?

Aanjjan Srivastav: My upcoming Bollywood release is Sam Bahadur directed by Meghna Gulzar.